Autoblog

Followup: Auctioneer Kruse ordered to pay bank $1.3M, has jet repo'd

Michael Harley — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Earnings/Financials

The walls are closing in on Dean Kruse, head of the Indiana-based Kruse International auction house. In September, a slew of lawsuits were filed against the company. Further opening the wound, a county court in Indiana has now ordered Kruse to pay more than $1.3 million to a bank in Warsaw -- just one of several debtors seeking money from the company -- for an overdue loan originally in the amount of $4.5 million. Two foreclosure lawsuits in DeKalb County, Indiana, are pending. One is for $6.5 million in unpaid loans. The other is for a loan in default for $7.8 million. Adding to his growing headache, and slowing down his travel, GE's financial arm has asked a federal court to repossess Kruse's million-dollar Cessna corporate jet.

While Kruse isn't talking to the media about his current events, he told The Journal Gazette last month that the recession has been hard on his sales. Compounding his troubles and drying up his cash flow, his longtime business practice of releasing cars to good customers before payment has come back to bite him. Understandably, he told the Gazette that he has since suspended that practice.

[Source: The Journal Gazette]

Followup: Auctioneer Kruse ordered to pay bank $1.3M, has jet repo'd originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley craftsmen create works of art for charity in their down time

Noah Joseph — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Bentley, UK, Design/Style

Bentley Art Project - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's what we love about Bentley. While workers at other automakers sit around and scratch their butts in their growing downtime, at Crewe, they put their spare time to good use. Back in March, we brought you news that Bentley's craftsmen were crafting bespoke furniture while they waited for production to pick back up. Now the British automaker has put its designers to work creating works of art.

The pool of artists in Bentley's styling department were given a broad mandate to create artwork inspired by their workplace, and 22 transformed everything from canvas to plexiglass, bronze to leather into an impressive array of pieces, all of which you can view in our high-resolution gallery below.

The collection will be auctioned off by Bonhams on December 1 to benefit The Christie cancer research center in Manchester. Full detail in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Bentley: Design is our passion. This is our art.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley craftsmen create works of art for charity in their down time

Bentley craftsmen create works of art for charity in their down time originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Petty's Garage Challenger heading to Barrett-Jackson

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Dodge, Celebrities, Specialty

2009 Petty's Garage Dodge Challenger - Click above for high-res image gallery

And with this official decree, let it be known that one custom 2009 Dodge Challenger, painted in a very familiar and regal blue shall be offered for sale to the highest bidder in Arizona in the year of our lord, 2010. The vehicle in question shall serve as a rolling tribute to Richard the 43rd. Long live the King!

Richard Petty was one of the winningest drivers in stock car history. With a record seven Daytona 500 trophies, 127 poles, 200 overall wins (including a record 27 -- and ten-in-a-row -- races in 1967), and seven championships in his 34-year, 1,185-race career, it's no wonder he's called The King. His legendary Chryslers, Fords and Plymouths bearing the number 43 were mostly built at his race shop in Level Cross, NC. Now all the king's men are working to build on his legacy under the newly formed banner of Petty's Garage.

The company plans to work on "museum-quality" restorations of vintage race cars, custom cars and high performance street machines. To kick off the new business, Petty's Garage has built a 2009 Challenger that will be sold in a Petty Family Foundation charity auction at B-J in January.

Painted in the trademark Petty Blue, it features a 585-hp Hemi 426, Pedders suspension upgrades, Brembo Gran Turismo brakes, a new center exit Corsa exhaust system, plus a Petty's Garage body kit consisting of custom front fascia, rear bumper cover, custom rocker panels and a rear spoiler. The inside gets the royal touch as well, with Petty's Garage branded seats and door panels. We saw the car at SEMA and it's a looker. You can read more details in the press release we've pasted in after the jump and check out the gallery from SEMA as well.

Gallery: Petty's Garage Dodge Challenger

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Petty's Garage Dodge Challenger

Continue reading First Petty's Garage Challenger heading to Barrett-Jackson

First Petty's Garage Challenger heading to Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Police auctioning off motorized La-Z-Boy used in DWI

Michael Harley — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:41:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Government/Legal, Humor

If you've ever had the urge to cruise your neighborhood in a self-propelled La-Z-Boy, your opportunity has arrived. Minnesota resident Dennis Anderson (no relation to the Gravedigger monster truck franchise - we think) has forfeited his notorious motorized, and over-the-top modified, recliner chair involved in his DWI incident and crash recently is going on the eBay auction block later this week.

To recap, this masterpiece of motorized furniture isn't your average run-of-the-mill family room napper. This particular innovative and highly customized chair is fitted with a nitrous-boosted lawnmower engine good for a top speed in the neighborhood of 20 mph (it is fitted with a parachute... apparently in case you happen to drive off a cliff). Dual headlights help guide you home from the late nights at the bar, while an integrated stereo sound system will make you everyone's envy at the stop lights (maybe from the curb, as we don't think it is technically street legal).

While Mr. Anderson got off with two years of probation for his antics, his prized possession is sadly being liquidated - sans reserve price - thanks to a Minnesota law allowing police to auction vehicles seized in drunk-driving cases. So, what do you think it will go for?

[Source: Engadget]

REPORT: Police auctioning off motorized La-Z-Boy used in DWI originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Hyundai-based X-4 "concept car"

Dan Roth — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Auctions, Specialty

X-4 "concept car" - click above for image gallery

Here's what to do with that Elantra GT you couldn't flip for Cash for Clunkers money. The seller is listing this "X4" as a Hyundai-based concept car, though it's unlike anything we've seen on the show circuit. A lot of work went into making this a conversation piece from what looks like parts of a leftover Hyundai, some VW Type 1 bits, and a whole lot of wackiness.

The build quality, while displaying care and attention to detail, looks to lean toward the late-1970s kit-car end of the spectrum. That's not to say that this vehicular oddity doesn't display ingeniuity, it's sure to draw a crowd of curious bystanders wherever you go with its odd styling and close-set rear wheels. The open design is well suited to cruising golf courses in fair climates, but it's unclear whether you'd have a hassle trying to legally register and drive such a contraption. There's about a day left, and the reserve hasn't been met by the current $5,100 bid for this unique bit of creativity with its matching trailer.

Gallery: X4 Hyundai based concept car

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: Hyundai-based X-4 "concept car" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coys coming to America to sell record-breaking collection of 500 classics

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions

British motoring enthusiasts and car collectors have come to know Coys as one of the preeminent auction houses in England. They've been in business since 1909, and operate several locations in the U.K. as well as offices in Italy, at Germany's Nürburgring and in Monaco. Until now, the auction house - whose recent notable consignments have included championship-winning motorcycles and dictator-chauffering cabriolets - has not delved into the American market, but they're ready for it now, and they're planning to make quite a splash.

Coys' first auction in the United States is scheduled to take place in Houston on September 19, and it will feature an enormous consignment of 500 automobiles - all from a single private collection. Of those, 200 will be auctioned off with no reserve price whatsoever, making this the largest no-reserve auction in American automotive history. Among the vehicles up for grabs are a 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Drophead Coupe, a 1985 Lamborghini Jalpa, a 1958 Porsche 356 Coupe and a 1916 Packard Twin-Six Runabout. Follow the jump for more details.

[Source: Coys]

Continue reading Coys coming to America to sell record-breaking collection of 500 classics

Coys coming to America to sell record-breaking collection of 500 classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Auctioneer Dean Kruse in deep financial/legal doo-doo

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Government/Legal

Kruse International, the four-decade-old, Indiana-based auction house that's moved cars like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is having a rough time of it. According to the Journal Gazette, lawsuits and actions have been brought against it by states, buyers and sellers - just about every entity an auction business is involved with. It isn't the first time founder Dean Kruse and his company have been in trouble, and Kruse says it's been worse before.

That's probably the best consolation possible, short of being paid back, for the people in line waiting for money. Customers in Indiana alone who haven't been paid for cars they consigned to auction are suing for more than a half-million dollars. Arizona suspended Kruse's license to hold auctions in that state, American Express wants more than $100,000 for unpaid corporate credit card bills, and one bank wants to foreclose on Kruse Auction Park, the company's showcase location for its Labor Day auction where 5,000 cars can go in one weekend. In total, Kruse's legal issues in Indiana alone count for more than $16 million.

According to the JG, Kruse says much of the problem is the way he's worked with regular customers, who would win a car at auction and pay later. Now, he claims he's owed more than $6 million by buyers. He also says he wasn't prepared for the recession, but now he just needs to get some cash flow going and he feels good about doing that. And if he needs to, he still has high-dollar items he can sell like an Auto Union used by the Nazi High Command. It's a familiar business story over the past year, but until things gets addressed, it might be best to remain a buyer as far as Kruse goes - they're the only ones who don't seem to have any complaints.

[Source: Journal Gazette]

REPORT: Auctioneer Dean Kruse in deep financial/legal doo-doo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Bentley Mulsanne #1 auctioned at Pebble Beach for $500,000

Noah Joseph — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Auctions, Videos, Bentley, Luxury

2010 Bentley Mulsanne - Click above to watch the video after the jump

After marking its highly anticipated debut at Pebble Beach, it was straight off to the auction block for the all-new Bentley Mulsanne, where Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen and Richard Charlesworth, head of the Bentley Heritage Collection, joined auctioneers Gooding & Company in selling off chassis #1 to the highest bidder.

The Mulsanne is touted as the first Bentley designed and produced entirely at the company's Crewe headquarters in England since the legendary 1920's-era 8-liter Bentley, and to mark the occasion, Gooding wheeled W.O. Bentley's own personal ride, the second 8-liter chassis ever made, onto the stage before bidding began. Gooding opened the bids for Mulsanne #1 at $500,000, but after receiving no bids at that price, bidding quickly stepped down to $300k, only to climb back up to the half-million mark where it sold to an undisclosed collector over the phone.

Proceeds from the auction are earmarked towards the Phil Hill Foundation, the official charitable organization of the Concours, and you can watch the bidding (and hear oh-so-British auctioneering) unfold in the video after the jump.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bentley Mulsanne #1 auctioned at Pebble Beach for $500,000

VIDEO: Bentley Mulsanne #1 auctioned at Pebble Beach for $500,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM to begin auctioning vehicles on eBay Tuesday

Chris Shunk — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Buick, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Pontiac

When General Motors announced its post-bankruptcy turnaround plan, one of the more obscure items in its strategy was to sell vehicles through eBay Motors. That plan goes into action tomorrow, as 225 of GM's 250 California dealerships begin piloting the program.

Under the program, GM will sell Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC and Buick models on the popular auction site, with the transaction being handled by a nearby dealership. Some of the auctions will be held with a bottom line "buy it now" price, while others will be bid-style sales. Car buyers will also be able to ask dealers questions through the site and work out financing online, without having to deal with anyone in person. The pact with eBay includes two new URLs to access the GM portal of eBay Motors, as customers can enter through gm.ebay.com and chevy.ebay.com (both inactive until tomorrow). Customers can also access deals through the main eBay site.

While GM's company-wide involvement in the program is new, dealership participation in eBay Motors auctions has been going on for years. The pact between GM and eBay will add functionality to the process, though, while giving dealers a greater online presence. Suspiciously absent from the program is GM's Cadillac brand. We don't know exactly why GM chose not to include its luxury arm in the eBay auctions, but we suspect that the decision has something to do with giving customers a more premium, coddled car-buying experience. The trial program is reportedly set to expire on September 8.

[Source: Free Press, GM's FastLane]

GM to begin auctioning vehicles on eBay Tuesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pebble Preview: Gooding tests the market with Phil Hill's Packard and a prince's Duesenberg

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Sedan, Auctions, Misc. Auto Shows, Ferrari, Luxury

Gooding & Company star cars for Pebble Beach 2009 -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Pebble Beach regular Gooding & Company will be bringing three special cars to this year's auction and the vintage rides are said to carry not only the requisite pedigree, but are expected to be barometers of the classic car market at a time when values are, at best, variable.

Included are a 1927 Packard 343 Convertible Sedan owned and restored by the late, great racer Phil Hill and being auctioned by his estate. It won Best of Pebble in 1977 and has never been auctioned before. Joining it will be a 1935 Duesenberg SJ Roadster (pictured) that was a gift from an heiress to a Georgian nobleman (Soviet Georgia, that is). Finally there's a car we can't help but love: a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. We don't care if it has a story or not. We want it. Desperately.

If you dig classic auctions and can't make it to Pebble, there will be a live webcast on the Gooding site at www.goodingco.com. Yet even though David Gooding said "Today's records become tomorrow's bargains," we don't expect to see any bargains at this year's show. You can read about all the cars after the jump and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Gooding & Co Pebble Preview '09

[Source: Gooding & Co | Photo credit: Gooding & Company]

Continue reading Pebble Preview: Gooding tests the market with Phil Hill's Packard and a prince's Duesenberg

Pebble Preview: Gooding tests the market with Phil Hill's Packard and a prince's Duesenberg originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phil Hill's race-winning Jaguar C-Type on the block at Pebble Beach

Noah Joseph — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Jaguar

Phil Hill's 1952 Jaguar C-Type - Click above for high-res image gallery

The upcoming auctions at Pebble Beach are shaping up to be the stuff of legends. Which should come as no big surprise as legends are exactly what will be up for grabs. In addition to the highly anticipated launch of the new "Grand Bentley" amidst the field of lust-worthy machinery on display, auctioneers will be putting such notable classics on the block as Ettore Buggati's own Type 57C, the one-of-a-kind Miller V16 racing car, and this historic 1952 Jaguar C-Type.

The first C-Type Jaguar to be imported into the United States, model XKC-007 was sent straight to the race track where it was driven by no less a talent than the legendary Phil Hill. The World-Champion-to-be took this particular C-Type to three victories at Elkhart Lake, Torrey Pines and Watkins Glen, the former scoring as the first victory for the iconic C-Type in its storied history. After being retired from active duty, XKC-007 passed through several collections before undergoing a full restoration in 1986, after which it won numerous awards on the vintage concours circuit - including a reunion date with Phil Hill to commemorate Jaguar's 50th anniversary in 2002. XKC-007 will be up for auction at RM's three-day Sports & Classics of Monterey event from August 13-15. Details in the press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 1952 Jaguar C-Type #XKC-007 ex-Phil Hill

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Phil Hill's race-winning Jaguar C-Type on the block at Pebble Beach

Phil Hill's race-winning Jaguar C-Type on the block at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White-Wall Intertubes: RM launches first online car auction

Noah Joseph — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions

Online auctions make sense when you're looking for a digital camera or a replacement part for your car, but for buying an entire car? It's been working for years on eBay Motors, and now Canadian auction house RM Auctions is joining the fold.

Even those who don't closely follow classic car transactions may recognize RM as the auction house that set new records with the $10.8m ex-James Coburn 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder and then set 'em again with the $12.2m 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa at the annual Ferrari auction in Maranello. Ferrari has since launched an online benefit auction for research scholarships, and on August 9, RM will follow suit with its own premier online auction.

Registration starts July 10 and several enticing - albeit hardly record-worthy - vintage rides will be on offer, including a 1953 Cadillac convertible (pictured above) and a 1963 Corvette split-window coupe. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading White-Wall Intertubes: RM launches first online car auction

White-Wall Intertubes: RM launches first online car auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari auctions off Montezemolo own's 599 GTB Fiorano

Noah Joseph — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Supercars, Ferrari, Celebrities

Between special one-offs like the disaster-relief F430 and record-breaking classics like the 1957 250 Testa Rossa, if you've had your eye on acquiring an especially special Ferrari at auctio, there has been no shortage of opportunities. And here's another to add to the docket: Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo's own 599 GTB Fiorano.

The chairman's ride is being auctioned off online to raise scholarship funds for young aspiring researchers. The example in question features a deep red Rosso Monza metallic paintjob over an interior swathed in charcoal leather and trimmed with extra carbon fiber bits. It's also been outfitted with sat-nav and an iPod as well as carbon-ceramic brakes behind 20-inch wheels. This marks the first occasion that Ferrari has auctioned off one of its vehicles online, and will come accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the current owner, who carries a bit of clout around the factory. Follow the link for more information, including a video of Montezemolo presenting the auction, or to place your bid. Thanks for the tip, Patrick!

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

[Source: Ferrari]

Ferrari auctions off Montezemolo own's 599 GTB Fiorano originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harley Earl's own '63 Corvette Stingray convertible on the auction block

Noah Joseph — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Specialty

Harley Earl's 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible - Click above for a high-res gallery

Legendary sportscar marques deserve their own dedicated auctions, and lately they've been getting what they deserve. RM Auction has been running a Ferrari-only event at the Maranello factory for a few years now, while Bonhams has been doing the same with Aston Martin at Newport Pagnell for even longer. But while the Corvette may technically be a model and not a brand, it has its own rabid following and its own history. Which could help explain why Mecum is holding a dedicated Corvette auction later this month in St. Charles, Illinois. The Mecum Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction will feature an array of Vettes from Chevy history, and this is undoubtedly the highlight: Harley Earl's personal Stingray convertible.

As the grand-daddy of American car design, Earl earned his place in history. And to help commemorate his achievements, General Motors presented him with this unique 'Vette in 1963, shortly after the car made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show. The car featured a unique metallic blue paintjob with white highlights and a blue leather interior, 300-horsepower fuel-injected 327, unique side exhaust and an array of special instruments in the glovebox.

Earl drove the car for two years - he even drove it at Daytona as the 500's Grand Marshall in 1965 - and then sold it to a war vet who drove it to California and back with local newspaper coverage. The car was then lost for decades before a group of amateur racers bought it at auction with the intent to drag race it before identifying it as something special. It then changed hands among Corvette collectors before receiving a full restoration. The car's status and storied history, more of which you can read about in the press release after the jump, are sure to fetch a pretty penny when this Vette crosses the auction block on June 26.

Gallery: Harley Earl's 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

[Source: Mecum]

Continue reading Harley Earl's own '63 Corvette Stingray convertible on the auction block

Harley Earl's own '63 Corvette Stingray convertible on the auction block originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Franco Uncini's 1982 MotoGP title-winning Suzuki up for auction in Monaco

Noah Joseph — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions, Suzuki, Motorcycle

Franco Uncini's 1982 MotoGP World Championship-winning Suzuki 500 XR40 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With the global economy in shambles, classic car collectors have been looking to something more affordable: namely, motorcycles. That's why, for example, Pebble Beach is opening up its concours to two-wheelers for the first time this year. Unfortunately for racing enthusiasts, championship-winning steeds seldom pop up for grabs. The factories and riders themselves tend to hang onto them. But here's one notable exception: the Suzuki 500 XR40 with which legendary rider Franco Uncini won the 1982 MotoGP World Championship.

Uncini's racing career was characterized by a checkered past filled with checkered flags. The Italian rider competed for Ducati, Harley-Davidson and Yamaha before finally filling the saddle at Suzuki,with which he won his first and only world title in 1982, the last Italian to win the MotoGP championship until Valentino Rossi began his reign in 2001. A devastating crash the following year put Uncini into a coma and ended his career in 1985. Today he acts as a safety representative for the series, riding around in that hot new BMW X6 M pace car we reported on earlier. He'll be on hand personally to supervise the auction of his championship-winning ride on May 18 when it goes under the hammer at the COYS auction in Monte Carlo together with 15 other historically-significant motorbikes. Uncini's bike is expected to fetch as much as €350,000, or nearly half a million dollars. Click on the thumbnails below to view the machine in high resolution.

Gallery: 1982 Suzuki 500 XR40 ex-Franco Uncini

[Source: COYS]

Franco Uncini's 1982 MotoGP title-winning Suzuki up for auction in Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 May 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, I'll be Francis Ford Coppola! A 1948 Tucker is headed for auction

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions

Many entrepreneurs have tried to break into the auto industry over the past century. Since the very early days, almost none have succeeded - or even lasted very long. Most such names have been forgotten and consigned to the dustbins of history. On the other hand, one of the most memorable failures of all time was Preston Tucker and his radically unconventional Torpedo. Only 51 of the forward-thinking sedans were built in 1948 before the company finally went belly up permanently.

One of those rare completed cars (no, not this one) will be put up for auction next month in Oakland, along with a a second engine and assorted other parts. Given the current economy, it will be interesting to see how high the bidding gets on this special piece of automotive history. The auction will be held on June 7 at Clars Auction House, but no, a DVD copy of Coppola's Tucker: The Man and his Dream will not be included in the purchase..

[Source: TuckerForSale.com, Photo by norjam8 | CC2.0]

Well, I'll be Francis Ford Coppola! A 1948 Tucker is headed for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 May 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car that chauffeured Mussolini, Franco, Hitler up for auction

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Europe, Fiat

There were a little more than 600 Fiat 2800s made between 1938 and 1943, only about 400 of them for civilian use. The one you see above is one-of-a-kind: a 1939 Fiat 2800 Torpedo whose cushions have supported the rear ends of King Vittorio Emanuele II, Queen Margherita, the Princess of Pistoia, Pope Pius XII, Benito Mussolini, Generalissimo Francisco Franco, and Adolf Hitler. A couple of prime ministers have graced those seats as well, but with that diverse, high-profile roster who's worried about bit players?

The car will be auctioned by COYS International Auction House and is expected to fetch something north of £250,000. If you're interested in a slice of history, you'll want to be in Espace Fontvieille, Monaco on Monday, May 18.

[Source: COYS]

Car that chauffeured Mussolini, Franco, Hitler up for auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 May 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: NHTSA attempting to stop GM Heritage Collection selloff at Barrett-Jackson

Chris Paukert — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Government/Legal, GM

Word 'round the auctionhouse campfire is that the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration is attempting to put the kybosh on a planned sale of many General Motors Heritage Collection vehicles this weekend. NHTSA is apparently calling for the halt because it fears that many of the vehicles slated for sale at Barrett-Jackson's Palm Beach auction are not road legal, yet new owners may attempt to drive them on public roads anyway.

Oddly, in both the past and at present, both GM and BJ have been very forthcoming that many of these collectible vehicles are not road-legal, selling them with disclaimers that they have salvage or display titles and that they cannot be registered. That apparently isn't sufficient for NHTSA, which likely fears that some successful bidders will attempt to plate vehicles which may or may not have all of the required safety equipment to be roadworthy.

According to Sports Car Market (via Inside Line), both parties are actively pursuing a resolution, but according to Il's report, it may not happen fast enough - about 100 GM Heritage Collection cars (click here for a list) are scheduled to go under the hammer beginning today and running through this weekend.

UPDATE: We've just received this statement from Barrett-Jackson's PR agency - "The Acting Administrator of NHTSA, Ron Medford, has communicated to Barrett-Jackson that previous issues concerning the sales of the GM Collection have been resolved and all sales can go forward."

[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: NHTSA attempting to stop GM Heritage Collection selloff at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Awesome AMC collection up for sale

Dan Roth — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Etc., Event Alert

Steve Green's AMC collection is enviable, and it's headed for auction. Spanning from the '60s to the '80s, there are several significant vehicles in the bunch, like the very last Matador ever produced -- a white Barcelona edition that belonged to AMC design chief Dick Teague - and a few lowest-miles examples of some models. Original paint graces most of the cars, and if you're a fan of AMC vehicles of the era, you'll be salivating over Pacers, Gremlins, Spirits, and AMXs. Steve Green's collection is widely respected, and health concerns are forcing the sale. There is no reserve, and Tom Mack Classics is handling the sale, which will happen during the Friday, April 3rd auction at the Lowe's Motor Speedway Spring Fling event. AMCs are personality-filled cars with anvil-like durability, and are relatively inexpensive to keep going. Sounds like a perfect entry point to collector cars.

Gallery: Steve Green AMC Collection

[Source: Hemmings, Photos: Tom Mack Classics]

Awesome AMC collection up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rare Ferrari 250 TR expected to break records at RM's Maranello auction

Drew Phillips — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Auctions, Supercars, Ferrari

Click on the image above for a high-res gallery of the 1957 Ferrari 250 TR

With its stunning pontoon-fendered bodywork sculpted by Scaglietti, the Ferrari 250 TR is not only one of the most beautiful cars ever built, it was one of the most competitive as well. Ferrari captured ten victories in nineteen races from 1958 to 1961, including a class win at Le Mans with Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien.

It's rare to see one offered for sale, and it is a guarantee that a massive sum of money will exchange hands when one comes on the market. Those high-end car collectors who remain unaffected by economic woes will have the chance to part with such funds this coming May when a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR, chassis #0714TR, crosses the block at RM Auctions' Ferrari Leggenda E Passione sale in Maranello. This particular example was campaigned extensively from 1958 to 1963 and is painted in its period-correct black paint with a red nose. RM expects the 250 TR to set a new world record for a car sold at auction, potentially exceeding the ~~rumored $21.7 million it took to buy a 250 GTO~~ $10.89 million dollar sale of a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder last year. More details on the sale in the press release from RM after the break.

Gallery: 1957 Ferrari 250 TR, chassis #0714TR

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading Rare Ferrari 250 TR expected to break records at RM's Maranello auction

Rare Ferrari 250 TR expected to break records at RM's Maranello auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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