April 2015 - US auction highlights
20 May, 2015
Barrett-Jackson returned to Palm Beach for another mammoth three day sale featuring supercars, muscle cars and custom cars. Among the star lots was a 1989 Lamborghini Countach Anniversary with only 2,200 miles on the clock. With prices for Countachs rising dramatically in recent years expectation was high – Mecum sold a similar car with more miles for $350,000 in January. However, on the day the bidding stalled at $335,000 which was not enough to meet the reserve.
Other exotica included a 1990 Ferrari Testarossa, sold without reserve for $95,700 and a 19-mile 2006 Ford GT. The GT had been stored in a collection since new and made $319,000. A second GT, in Gulf colours with 2,400 miles, failed to meet its reserve.
A highlight for Custom Car fans was the 1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback with run-in miles on a Shelby 427 motor, modified to 527/750hp spec. With no reserve the car sold for $110,000.
Amongst the Corvettes, notable sales included; an original unrestored 29,000-mile 1962 'Fuelie', part of the Chip Miller collection in the 1980s, at $110,000; and a 1965 convertible, originally purchased by the actor Sir John Mills for his daughters, and subsequently restored by Richard Petty’s Garage in 2014, also made $110,000.
A real treat for muscle car fans was a 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500, one of only 392 Charger 500 coupes built, and described as the most highly optioned Charger 500 known to exist. The car, which had been a fixture in the Wellborn Musclecar Museum since 2004, sold for $165,000. For those who prefer their muscle cars slightly less understated this 1970 Plymouth Superbird finished in Lemon Twist Yellow ticked all the right boxes, selling for $165,000.
An authentic 'Herbie' from the series of films and last used in Herbie Goes Bananas made $126,500. With documented title from 1972 showing 'Walt Disney Productions' as the owner, the car was identified by Disney as being ‘5916’ – the oil squirting car from Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.
