I don’t really follow the auction scene, but they can give a nice glimpse into the real-world selling prices of cars. CC reader Hugh sent me a link to these 450 cars of the John Scotti Collection sold very recently. There’s a wide range of cars here, and in varying conditions, although obviously no beaters. This image is just a little snip; you’ll have to follow this link to see all of them, and click on the red text on each one to get the full details including additional shots. That ’64 Corvair Monza Spyder is really talking to me…
Likely one of the best ways to spend $4,400. Unbelievable…
http://www.auctionsamerica.com/events/feature-lots.cfm?SaleCode=AS14&ID=r1391&Order=runorder&feature=&collection=&grouping=The%20John%20Scotti%20Collection&category=
When our Impala bit the dust (the victim of an overzealous mechanic who advanced the timing to the point where you could hear pre-ignition in the cabin) we bought a 1971 Sport Fury. Not only was it similar to the Chryslers of that era but when it needed service, the salesman, who was a family friend and neighbor, would leave his Chrysler demo with us and drive it into the dealer, so I logged a few miles in similar cars.
That is a deal, as far as I’m concerned.
Sweet!
These prices seem low. DId they not advertise the auction? At these prices, I would have love to bought the whole collection!
Some of these cars look like they were stolen at these low prices. Within $10,000 is more my price range for something I can drive and enjoy.
Auctions are always risky, but there is some nice iron there for prices that look pretty decent. I’d have a hard time picking just one, but if I had to that ’64 Parisienne convert with a 327 4 speed would probably be it. Or the ’65 Corvair Monza…..
An eclectic collection for sure.
I am plainly not paying attention, but I guess this confirms that my tastes are simple – most of my faves are $15K or less and even the best don’t go beyond the price of a nice new car. One quantum shift is where a 64 Ford convertible sells for higher than either a 36 Ford cabriolet or a first gen Lincoln Continental. And the 50s Mopar stuff has really caught on, as well. Oh well, time marches on.
I am still used to things being priced lower, but these are often of lesser quality. You have to pay for quality. And damn, this reminds me that I should have spent the 1970s and 80s investing every spare dime I had in old Mopar A, B and E bodies. Where did I put that damned flux capacitor . . . .
Where did I put that damned flux capacitor . . . .
That’s no joke!
Growing up we had a white 1966 Chevrolet Impala four-door hardtop. I always thought it was an attractive design and I must not be alone as I counted several in this auction.
I think the ’72 Riviera is a great investment.
I was looking for something in the $1500 range and oh by the way it needs to get good gas mileage, see anything like that?
I’m surprised at the Ro80’s price.
Speaking of Ro80s Don, I picked this up last week. It’s an Ro80 rotor housing that I got from a guy who has two Ro80s and three engines and is making one good one out out of the parts. I’m going to polish it up and display it on my hall table – people who don’t like cars won’t ‘get’ it of course!
Great find, Scott. Beautiful piece of sculpture.
These prices seem a decent bit lower than I see in other places. Did the market on these cars just crash out recently? Or, were these just really tarted up for the photos?
The prices were definitely all over the board. Some good deals were had like the Ford retractable hard tops going for just a few dollars more than a rag top. Also some people seriously overpaid like 100K+ for a GNX with 86 miles on the clock, there are a lot of those out there with even fewer miles that sell for closer to what the example with 40K on the clock sold for.
These prices are a wonderful antidote to the Barret Jackson six- and seven-figure madness. Yes, classic cars are still available at reasonable prices. Just stay away from the stuff that goes to boomers who haven’t stopped living high school.
Personal favorites? The Triumph 5/5 with sidecar. That’s a vertical twin, designed by Val Page, and has nothing to do with the Edward Turner 1939 Speed Twin, which later evolved into the 650 Bonneville. Not a big seller at the time, not terribly sporting. A sidecar hauler.
The Porsche 928, of course. And for no more money than I paid for my Solstice. Likewise, the 944 Turbo.
And a couple of the Roll-Royces/Bentleys. If I’m going to do oversized, porking luxury; I’m going to do it right.
And, of course, the Corvairs. I wanted to cry at those prices.
Its not just the 7 figure madness that bothers me about BJ, its the “if it aint a (57 Chevrolet, Hemi Mopar, Corvette, Chevelle SS, or et al) it’s shit” attitude that they have about the coverage on TV and that the announcers have. Same with the shmucks that cover the Mecum auctions too.
+1
Agreed. I’ll credit a lot of that to the car shows parallel of the “if it bleeds, it leads” attitude of television news. Go for the eye-popping big-bucks stuff like its all that’s out there, certain models usually reach those heights, so you build them up as the only cars worthwhile, which nudges the prices a bit higher, which has the announcers putting even more time on certain models . . . .
Sorry, if I’m going to get back into the car-show hobby, I want something that’s going to get a lot of “what the hell is it?” looks, not just another damned example of what already filling up half the field.
John Scotti is a dealer from Montreal. Here’s some background on the auction.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/classic-cars/montreal-wheeler-and-dealer-puts-400-vehicles-up-for-bid-at-auction/article18042481/
That explains all the Parisiennes!
Not to mention the Grand Nationals with 140 km/h speedos.
I’m surprised that the beautiful red-white-black 56 New Yorker, lot #5166, didn’t even hit $20k. Wonder what was wrong with the red 300D that it was so cheap too.
On the other end of the spectrum, $40k seems high for the Lagonda. It’s one breakdown away from being irrepairable.
After looking at the listings again, the ’69 Cuda with the modern 5.7L Hemi fitted (lot #5030) looks well done, and the $34k selling price will be a fraction of what it must have cost to build. If I wanted the “retro” look with a modern powertrain, I’d buy this over a new Challenger any day.
I also noticed that the red ’65 Sport Fury coupe, lot #5196, is packing a 426 wedge with a 4-speed stick!!! A rare and good looking car, decently priced at $17k.
I’m surprised that some of the Caddies didn’t go for more, especially the ’59 Coupe de Ville at $33.5k
I never thought I would see the day when a ’65 Mustang would go for the same money as a ’56 Thunderbird.
wow, I love that 86 Pontiac Aerocoupe. lots of nice cars.
I’ve seen a couple Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupes but I don’t ever recall seeing one of those in person before. Sounds like it was well kept, and sold for under $10k. Probably a good deal for someone.
22k for a Morry thou woody really.
These prices are interesting. Over $50k for a ’63 Galaxie convertible with a 406 doesn’t surprise me a whole lot, but the $7150 for it’s eight years newer sister (in coupe form) does.
Truly something for everybody with this assortment and some screaming deals on some.
It may be against the rules, but I kinda like that ’74 Impala coupe.
Dreams of a young adult…1982 Corvette and an 84 Eldorado both for around 20k. If I’d have known about this auction the families three 2 week long vacations would have been cancelled. WOW, now I weep.
Somebody wanted a Vega GT pretty bad.
Well, it was a V8 conversion that looked to have been nicely done. But, yeah, even with that, the price paid seemed kind of high.
Lot number 1003, Caprice “SS” wagon for a daily driver.
Lot 3037 NSU Ro80 for obscurity “wow” factor.
Lot 3045 Lagonda sedan to pick up chicks.
Guess I get the Electra! Nothing reminds me more of my long-gone grandfather.
CC has opened my mind to cars other than those from the 80s. They really do look like POS’s compared to the late 60s/70s cars GM made.
Were those road wheels used for..20 years?!
If only I could get behind the wheel of one of these…
I’d take that one too. GM used those style of wheels for at least 20 years, if something works then why mess with it. They did change the center caps over the years.
They came out in 1964 and finally signed off for good on the 1990 Buick Estate. Longer lived than the Pontiac Rally II, Oldsmobile SSII and even the Chevrolet Rally Wheel from what I recall.
Thank you. That’s crazy it worked for so long!
Auction prices are, for the most part, the bottom dollar a unit is worth. Remember, an item’s value is only what someone will pay cold, hard cash for, not what you wish they would; a lesson many wannabe dealers learn the hard way on Craigslist. “So what if I haven’t washed it and it sputters? Like the ad said, it runs great, it’s just a head gasket. That dent, I mean ding, in the rear quarter will pop right out; and the AC only needs a charge! The check engine light is just a sensor, same with the airbag light! The price is right, that’s KBB retail!” These auction prices seem fair for a non-retail offering. Remember, little pre-inspection, no guarantee except a clear title, cash due on the barrel-head by the end of today, and you get it out of here yourself; this ain’t Mecum or BJ’s ya know!
In many cases the auction prices are higher than what they are worth in the open market. I only takes two guys who have to prove they have the fatter wallet to over bid on something. Conversely if there aren’t two people willing to step up or there are more of a similar car than there are willing buyers the price can be below what it would go for on the open market. Just look how low the price was for the retractable hard tops was since there were two 59s and a soft top of the same year too.
There’s always the possibility that a bidding war will erupt; but what you’ve described reiterates my point. A unit is only worth what it bring in cash; not the seller’s definition of “open market”, and that fluctuates for a variety of reasons, some perceived, some actual.
Some very nice cars in there, and some very low prices. Even taking shipping and compliance into account, many would sell for a lot more if imported to NZ.
A 1987 Buick Grand National with 40,000 miles for less then $17,000??? Yes please!! $17,000 is Ford Fiesta money and to get one of the last made is money well spent.
Amazing! There’s something for everyone here. The cockles of this old Fordista’s heart were warmed by the awesome display of Galaxies and T-birds, but $44,000 for a ’67 XL 500 convertible? Not from me. I also loved the ’41 Studebaker President 8 and the ’65 Imperial Crown convertible.
I think the Gauguin Red 300D coupe was a bargain at $24K.
Not that I’ve got 24K to spend on a car, you understand, but again….
I agree on the 71 NY 4-door hardtop, and there was a nice black 55 New Yorker sedan that sold under $10K.
John Scotti advertised in Hemmings – I remember seeing ads for some of the specific cars auctioned, every month for years – there was never a price in their ads though. I did get the feeling that there was no huge push to get cars sold.
My brother the banker reminds me that in an auction any item is only worth what the second to last bidder is willing to spend. Thanks to Paul and all the other contributors here for enlightening me about so many of these cars. Amazing that the Corvairs go for so little, esp. compared with the similar-vintage Chevy II’s, but see sentence #1 above. My vote for deal of the show would be the 73 Cutlass Colonnade. I know it was a Deadly Sin (we had its sister in the bow tie, I really know), but that is a pretty car. About the best early integration of the 5 mph bumper, too. Now, just add the Salon suspension, re-tune the motor back to ’68 specs, and let’s go get some ice cream.
Lots of gorgeous rides here! This collection is a bit GM-heavy but then…GM did have the biggest outlay of product. That said, there are a LOT of really tight looking Mopars in here. The ones that stand out to me most are:
’67 Satellite 2 door h/t: What can I say? Blue is my favorite color, black is my favorite interior color and its a 383 with a 4 in the floor. The GTX gets all the fanfare, but a smart buyer would option up a lower lever car in the day. Might have been cheaper, and definitely cheaper to insure.
’72 Duster 340: Ive said it over and over, but the Duster is THE muscle car that Id actually want to own and drive if I could choose just one. It gives you all the macho brawny looks you expect from a muscle car with an all around useable powertrain. These aren’t so ridiculously rare or expensive that you cant just drive and enjoy the hell out of it. That the bench seat and column shift are all too common and craptastic make for the only flaws in this otherwise gorgeous car.
’69 Plymouth RoadRunner: Its a blue Mopar, gotta love it. But ugh, that column shifter!
’65 Sport Fury 2 door H/T: Its a big read beauty. I like these 2 door fullsizers with 4 speeds…bet that thing boogies, and at $17K its a damn steal! Id recoup some of the $$ by selling off those damn rear fender skirts…
’94 Land Rover Defender 90: Its blue, its a v8 powered short wheelbase soft top 4×4. What else do you need to know?
’62 Hotchkiss Jeep: Im a Jeep guy til the day I die…no way NOT to like this! However, this one is a bit of a mystery to me. As a 9-slot grille MB/GPW bodystyle, I was under the impression these gave way to the M38 by the end of WWII which was a militarized version of the CJ-2A. The only flat fender Im aware of being built in ’62 is the CJ-3B. Ill have to look into this….
’72 Road Runner: How this gold beauty rolled out of there for under $20K is a total mystery to me. Sure, the fusey versions aren’t as valuable as 1st gen models…but DAMN! Whoever got this couldn’t have taken it cheaper at gunpoint.
’69 Barracuda: Naysayers can say nay all they want about reso-mods…but this is done right! The wheels look right at home, even though they are a slightly modernized torq thrust, and whats NOT to like about the 345 Hemi? Wish it was a manual…but still one sweet ass ride!