The sale on most people’s lips from last weekend’s RM|Sotheby’s auction at the Petersen Museum was (justifiably) the $22Million sale of a 1956 Ferrari 290MM by Scaglietti. The weekend was a success with almost 90% of the lots selling but, amazingly, that single Ferrari made up more than half the dollar value the auction’s total sales. By comparison there were some bargains to be had, and besides it’s always worth pointing out some of the amazing lots that didn’t make headlines.
1964 Messerschmitt KR 200
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Zagato
289 Cobra
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV
1966 Toyota 2000GT
1981 Lamborghini Countach
1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
That $30,000 sale has to be the highest price I’ve seen seen a Vespa command—even for one as rare as the Calessino.
If you thought that vintage track footage was hard to find, you should try digging up old tours of sportscar workshops. I can’t help imagining that this precious film is the result of an expectant Miura buyer visiting the line to check in on their purchase. Whatever the reasons or motivations for the filming, it’s a wonderful artifact of Lamborghini’s early days.
Marvelous to hear this interview with Colin Gilmore-Merchant at a Goodwood Breakfast Club event about his experience with his Lamborghini Miura. Such a miraculously beautiful machine. Even with Colin simply standing next to it, it looks as though it could take flight at any moment.
When you’re buying, you want an auction catalog that is mostly uninteresting. Lot after lot of uninspiring cars won’t draw the crowds so you can hope you won’t have much competition when that one special lot comes to the stage. Next weekend’s Gooding auction at Scottsdale is not the auction for that kind of buyer. This is one for the seller; or the buyer that thrives on the competition of outbidding all comers. A marvelous collection of cars. So marvelous, that it leaves us with some decisions to make while we pretend we’re hundred-millionaires.
Like this one: which of the two Lamborghini Miuras on offer should we go home with?
Both are S models. So no immediate disqualifiers for the “lesser” version. One example is largely original. The other is the result of a 4-year restoration. One in subtle (yeah, right.) white, the other in an unconventional and charming gold. Decisions… Decisions…
Gooding gives the 1970 goldie (chassis 4548) a higher estimate range than the 1969 white one (3982). What do you think? Which Miura would you want to take home.
1969 Lamborghinhi Miura S
This is the first time I’m noticing that I’m just not that into the Miura’s interior. That central gauge panel jutting out like the prow of a ship from the dash just isn’t to my taste.
Update: Money talks. And the buyers at the Scottsdale Auctions agreed with most of us that Goldie came out on top. The 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S brought in $660,000, while the 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S brought in only $577,500. Both notable in that another Miura, on offer from Bonhams recently broke a million.
Like our previouslooks at car show podiums of the past, here’s more proof it’s not just automotive design that’s suffered—even the “booth babes” are less interesting than they used to be.
Of course the one-off Miura Roadster stole most of the attention at the ’68 Brussels Auto Salon. But it was a nice try, girls.
