Autoblog

1960 Ferrari 250 GT sells for over $8 million in record-setting RM auction weekend

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Earnings/Financials, Ferrari

Although the vast majority of eyeballs were tuned to the madness at Barrett-Jackson this past weekend, that televised car auction wasn't the only high-dollar game in Arizona. RM Auctions brought its usual gaggle of exotic wares to the desert, and the car that came out on top sold for much more than Barrett-Jackson's highest sale, the Batmobile.

Coming out on top at RM last weekend was Lot 164, a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta 'Competizione' that sold for a massive $8,140,000 - the buyer could've nearly bought two Barris Batmobiles for that chunk of change. Lot 122, a 1967 Shelby 427 'Semi-Competition' Cobra, stood at $2,007,500 in second place, just in front of Lot 145, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, which sold for $1,842,500.

After all said and done, RM reported $36.4 million in sales. That's a record for RM in Arizona, even though the total number of lots for 2013 was reduced significantly. Eight machines cracked the million-dollar mark, and you can see all of them in the press release right down below or peruse all of the auction results here. But first, be sure to scroll through our high-res image gallery of live photos above.

Continue reading 1960 Ferrari 250 GT sells for over $8 million in record-setting RM auction weekend

1960 Ferrari 250 GT sells for over $8 million in record-setting RM auction weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Motors reveals where it sells the most cars and which brands are the most popular

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions

While most of our time on eBay Motors is spent looking for a good eBay Find of the Day article or daydreaming about our next project vehicle, there are plenty of people who actually use the site to purchase cars and parts - to the tune of $3.7 billion in Q3 2012 alone. With the year coming to a close, eBay Motors has revealed the top makes and models that have rolled across its virtual auction block and where these purchases were made.

The Big Three occupied the top three spots for the top makes, while American muscle cars (Mustang, Corvette and Camaro) and Ford pickup trucks (F-250 and F-150) were the top five models. Of the $3.7 billion brought in during Q3 2012, eBay says that $2 billion was from vehicle sales and the remaining $1.7 billion was from parts and accessories. Not surprisingly, more than three-quarters of all vehicles sold on eBay during this same time period were interstate transactions with California, Florida and Texas drawing the most sales.

Scroll down to see the full list of the top five makes and models sold on eBay Motors in 2012 as well as the top 10 US states in which sales were made.

Continue reading eBay Motors reveals where it sells the most cars and which brands are the most popular

eBay Motors reveals where it sells the most cars and which brands are the most popular originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RM Auctions sees 20 cars sell for $1 million or more in Monterey

Zach Bowman — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Luxury, Racing

If there's a recession afoot, no one told the bidders at Saturday's RM Auctions sale. A total of 13 cars went home to new owners for $1 million or more, including a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta TdF at $6.71 million. The '56 was hardly the star of the evening, however, as 1962 Ferrari 250 GT short-wheelbase California Spyder fell under the gavel at $8.58 million. The Italian automaker only built 37 250 GT SWB Spyders with covered headlights, and this particular example has the benefit of being both Ferrari Classiche-certified and a Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance class winner.

A road-going 1967 Ford GT40 Mk I went home to the tune of $2.86 million, while the 2001 Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans Prototype took in $2.53 million. A number of race cars crossed the stage on Saturday, including a '64 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra, which sold for $1.32 million. Check out the full press release below for a complete list of the 13 $1 million-plus sales on Saturday.

The day prior, the auction house moved an additional seven examples for more than $1 million, bumping the total number of vehicles to crest the seven-digit mark to 20. As the auctioneer so poignantly underscored, "It's only money, gentlemen. You can always make more on Monday."

Continue reading RM Auctions sees 20 cars sell for $1 million or more in Monterey

RM Auctions sees 20 cars sell for $1 million or more in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prince of Monaco auctioning some of dad's collection

Chris Tutor — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Celebrities

Prince Rainier III of Monaco spent years amassing a collection of classic, rare and collectible automobiles. It was an eclectic assortment of makes, models and eras. A 1939 Simca 5 shared the same display area as a 1980 Citroën CX2400 and a 1928 Hispano Suiza.

But his son, Prince Albert II, wants to take the collection in a different direction. We don't know for sure, but perhaps he wants a more focused group of autos. So Prince Albert II is putting 38 of the cars up for auction.

A few of the more interesting lots are the aforementioned 1939 Simca 5 expected to go for between 8,000 and 10,000€ (about $12,500) and a rare 1973 Camaro export model with 43k kilometers on the odo. It's described as being in very good shape, but its inline six keeps the expected sale price to between 8,000 and 12,000€ ($15,000).

On the high end is a 1924 Panhard & Levassor X47 limo with a Weymann body. Weymann, the auction catalog reads, was known for making lightweight, aviation-inspired bodies by stretching imitation leather across wooden frames. This car's rarity and superb condition could push the top bid to and estimated 35,000€ ($44,000).

The auction takes place on July 26 in Monaco. All the cars to be sold can be seen on the auction house's website or you can download a PDF of the catalog here.

Prince of Monaco auctioning some of dad's collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction

John Neff — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Videos, The List

When you think of major car auctions, you probably think of Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. That's the one that came to mind for us, which is why we sent Jessi and Patrick to experience its sights and sounds this past January.

Not only did they come away with what it's like to be inside the big tents of Barrett-Jackson on the company's biggest day of the year, they also followed the experiences of several sellers, all of whom were counting on six- and seven-figure prices for their precious pieces of metal. Did they leave the Grand Canyon State with smiles on their faces? Scroll down and watch the latest episode of The List to find out.

Click here to watch The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction.

Have an RSS feed? Click here to add The List.
Have an idea for The List? Click here to tell us what would be on yours.
Click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick.

Continue reading The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction

The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gooding to auction 1995 McLaren F1 in Monterey

Drew Phillips — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions

1995 McLaren F1 to be auctioned by Gooding & Company - Click above for high-res image gallery

Gooding & Company's auction coinciding with this year's Pebble Beach Concours is coming up in a few short weeks, and the lineup of available cars is shaping up to be quite impressive. Already dozens of incredibly compelling and valuable collector cars are scheduled to make their way across the block, but the car that has caught our attention the most so far is a 1995 McLaren F1.

The F1 is singularly special in its own right, but this particular car is even more attractive to buyers in the United States since it's one of the few examples actually registered in the country. The car was sold originally to Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, who was one of the sponsors of McLaren's race team back in the mid-1990s. This F1 comes finished in classic Magnesium Silver paint with a black interior and comes with its factory-delivered luggage and tools. The estimated price? A mere $2.5 to $3.5 million. Follow the jump for full details in the press release from Gooding, and be sure to check out the images below.

Gallery: 1995 McLaren F1 - Gooding & Company

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Gooding to auction 1995 McLaren F1 in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manny Ramirez's 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo to be auctioned for charity

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Porsche, Celebrities

Manny Ramirez's 1994 911 Porsche Turbo 3.6

Call it our non-eBay Find of the Day: 1994 Porsche 911 (964) Turbo 3.6. 34,569 miles. Red/grey. One owner: Slugger Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the car itself is a run-of-the-mill 964 Turbo - its 3.6-liter flat-six putting out 360 horsepower - that particular Turbo was among the rarest of the Porsche Turbo models. These particular air-cooled 911 Turbos were only produced from 1993-1994 with about 1,500 rolling off the line before the company switched over to the newer 993 platform.

Celebrity ownership doesn't always bring extra bucks in a sale, but we're hoping it does in this case. You see, Manny has donated the car to the Dodgers, who are auctioning it off starting July 2, 2010 to raise money for the team's own ThinkCure! charity and for Maryvale, a residential placement home for girls.

The book value on Manny's Porsche is $58,000, but the Dodgers hope to raise a lot more than for the charities that stand to benefit from the sale. So, dig deep and get a move on! The Manny Ramirez Porsche auction ends Monday, July 12 at 11:00 AM Pacific. You can read additional details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: ThinkCure! | Image: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers]

Continue reading Manny Ramirez's 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo to be auctioned for charity

Manny Ramirez's 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo to be auctioned for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Ex-McQueen 1958 Siata 208S is gorgeous

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Celebrities, Luxury

Steve McQueen's 1953 Siata 208S - Click above for high-res image gallery

We have a confession to make. We've been smitten with this car since first stumbling across it on Fantasy Junction earlier this year. The 1953 Siata 208S you see above is one of 35 ever created, and this particular example has an unmatched ownership pedigree. Its first owner was none other than Cool himself, Steve McQueen. If that's not enough to send your eyebrows to your hairline, have a listen to the little roadsters specs. Under the hood you'll find a Fiat 2.3-liter V8 that has been reworked to produce around 137 horsepower at the rear wheels. There's no word on how much the thing weighs, but we're guessing the figure is somewhere between packing peanuts and meringue. Pure. Driving. Joy.

The Siata was restored over eight years from 1991 to 1999, and the then-owner even went so far as to get FIA papers in order to participate in the Mille Miglia. As far as we can tell, the car never participated in the competition.

Now, here's the real kicker. The gorgeous little roadster is up for bid on eBay as you read this, complete with the cool Buy it Now price of $1.3 million. We can already hear the comments balking at the price tag, so let us put it you like this: Sure, you could buy a Bugatti Veyron for that price, but where's the class? Where's the style? If we had the cash, we'd have the Italian in a heartbeat, and we'd drive the doors off of it in honor of the man who knew life was for the living.

Gallery: Steve McQueen's 1953 Siata 208 S

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Ex-McQueen 1958 Siata 208S is gorgeous originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tucker Club reiterates doubts about authenticity of auction convertible

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Convertible

Allow us to clarify: the Tucker Torpedo Convertible we wrote about recently should herewith be referred to as the purported Tucker Torpedo Convertible. The droptop claiming to be a Torpedo will be up for auction in Scottsdale soon, offered by Russo and Steele. A note from the Tucker Automotive Club of America, however, states that it knows of no such car ever having been made by the Tucker Corporation. The statement says, in part:

"The Tucker Automobile Club of America, Inc. (TACA) has never been presented with-nor have been able to find-any credible evidence to prove the authenticity of this or any other vehicle as being a Tucker Corporation intended convertible and therefore we can not certify it as such."

The club does not say that the convertible in question is definitely not a genuine Torpedo. The club's position is that it has never been able to successfully prove the provenance of said car, "nor has the seller responded to [the club's] request seeking the engine serial number and data plate information." Without a single piece of documentation to support the car among the library of papers detailing Tucker's rise and fall, about the only thing to say for it is: buyer beware. Hat tip to Jeff.

[Source: Tucker Automobile Club of America]

Tucker Club reiterates doubts about authenticity of auction convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Motors begins offering free vehicle history reports from Experian

Michael Harley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions

Consumers wary of purchasing vehicles off eBay may take a bit of comfort in the online auction site's announcement that all vehicles built since 1981 will now include free vehicle history reports effective today. The "AutoCheck" information, supplied by Experian Automotive, will detail whether vehicles have been involved in major accidents, have salvage titles, have been stolen or repossessed, have had their odometers tampered with, or have seen special duty as a taxi or police vehicle. Of course, the service is only able to detail information which has been reported, a common complaint about vehicle history reports. Nicolas Franchet, senior director of U.S. vehicles at eBay Motors, says the free reports will help build the level of trust between the buyers and sellers. "We're interested in being the best place to buy and sell your car online," Franchet said.

Those familiar with eBay Motors will recall that the site has offered vehicle history reports from CarFax, Inc., when supplied by dealers. Those reports are still be available via a link, but the new AutoCheck data supplied without charge is now automatically displayed in a shaded area below the vehicle image in the body of the listing. For more details, check out the official press release after the jump or eBay Motors.

[Source: Experian Automotive | Image: Sean Gallup/Getty]

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eBay Motors begins offering free vehicle history reports from Experian originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:29:00 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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Henderson: GM to experiment selling cars through eBay Motors

Chris Paukert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Marketing/Advertising, GM

As part of its post-bankruptcy rebirth, General Motors plans to "experiment" selling its cars on eBay. At its press conference this morning, CEO Fritz Henderson let slip to members of the media that the automaker is engaged in talks with online auction site eBay "to revolutionize how people buy cars online." According to Henderson, GM has plans to try selling its vehicles online:

"Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined 'Buy It Now' price... we'll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months... in all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned."

Many individual GM dealers already use the auction powerhouse to sell vehicles, so the move isn't completely uncharted territory, but it isn't immediately clear how (or if) the automaker plans to integrate its dealer body within this process. Henderson was quick to reinforce that the company's plans with eBay are just an experiment, so as the CEO says... stay tuned.

Henderson: GM to experiment selling cars through eBay Motors originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:58:00 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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