Today! Bonhams Auction at the National Automobile Museum (Formerly Harrahs) is live right now. Some very interesting cars including a Stanely SV, various Big Daddy Roth customs, Franklin V12, etc. Attached is a link to the live auction
https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/32353/the-national-automobile-museum-auction/


Sold for 19k hammer plus commision.

LOT 12
1932 Lincoln KA 4-Door Sedan sold for 28k plus commision.

LOT 13
1899 Locomobile Style 1 Stanhope sold for 55k plus commision.

LOT 14
1936 DeSoto Custom Airstream S-1 Taxicab sold for 14k plus commission.

LOT 15
1908 Brush Model A Runabout sold for 19k plus commission

LOT 16
1909 Black Model 112 Motor Buggy sold for 35k plus commission.
Estimated Value
$35,000 - $45,000

LOT 17
1910 White G-A Touring
Estimated Value
$50,000 - $60,000
Sold for 35k plus commission.

LOT 18
1912 Selden 47-R Fire Chief Roadster
Estimated Value
$75,000 - $100,000
Sold for 45k plus commission.

Ok. I have to run to a BBQ unfortunately as I wanted to watch this auction. Anybody else has time post some of the results. I'm really interested in the Franklin, Marmon, Cord and Stanley.

LOT 63
1992 Roth Fink Mobile Motorcycle
Estimated Value
$18,000 - $24,000
Sold for 75K plus commission! This one was 3x the estimate.

Big Daddy still has a Big following. Anybody here ever visit movieworld when he worked there?

Big Daddy was a god in the Kustom car world. Very talented artist and fabricator. Lived in a van on the Movieworld lot.

LOT 64
1993 Roth Yankee Blitz
Estimated Value
$18,000 - $24,000
Sold for 70K plus commission. Another big number for a Roth piece. I think the purposely sandbagged the estimates.

LOT 65
1956 Chrysler 300B Sport Coupe
Estimated Value
$35,000 - $45,000
Sold for 31k plus commission.

LOT 66
Ex-J.B. "Jack" Nethercutt 1920 Packard Twin Six 3-35 Limousine
Estimated Value
$60,000 - $80,000
Sold for 41k plus commission.

Not the most attractive car, but depending on what it takes to get it up and running, this is a pretty low entry into the twin six world.

Most of the twin six bodies are touring cars that I have seen. This may be a bargain or it may not. As @alsancle says all the time. Depends how deep a hole you have to dig.

Really depends on the engine. If you can get it running and driving for 10-15k you are doing well. If not...
I looked at a running/driving touring car for a friend a couple of years ago. Largely original condition. I think the guy wanted around 100k but I believe something less would buy it.

Agreed. Depends on the engine and mechanics. Might be an ok deal or might be a sinkhole.

LOT 67
1922 Wills Ste. Claire A-68 Roadster
Estimated Value
$60,000 - $80,000
Sold for 66k plus commission.

This is a great car at a decent price. Hopefully the engine is ok.

OHC V8. What is there not to like?

1966 Plymouth Belvedere Satellite Two-Door Hardtop
Estimated Value
$80,000 - $120,000
Hemi car.
Sold for 93k plus commission.

Did I see that this car came with its broadcast sheet? That is a 20% bump or more with a HEMI car. 100K is probably market. This similar car is for sale on Hemmings with an ask of 100k
https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1966-plymouth-belvedere-2-roxboro-nc-760431

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible
Estimated Value
$45,000 - $55,000
327 Four Speed. Runs and Drives. Recent donation.
Sold for plus 44k plus commission.

From the Minden Automotive Museum 1918 Dort Model 6 Fleur-de-Lys Roadster
Estimated Value
$20,000 - $30,000
Sold for 12k plus commission.


Wow. That is quite a result. I was thinking 150-175k.

Outstanding result.

From the Minden Automotive Museum 1918 Glide Light Six-40 Touring
Estimated Value
$15,000 - $25,000
Sold for 12k plus commission.

From the Minden Automotive Museum 1919 Oldsmobile Model 37-A Roadster
Estimated Value
$20,000 - $30,000
Sold for 15k plus commission.

From the Minden Automotive Museum 1919 Essex Series A Touring
Estimated Value
$10,000 - $15,000
Sold for 9k plus commission.

From the Minden Automotive Museum 1925 Pierce-Arrow Model 33 Touring
Estimated Value
$45,000 - $55,000
This is the big 415 cube six.
Sold for 50k plus commission.
Most of the Model 33 cars you see have big closed bodies. Maybe the reason this car did ok? @Edinmass should comment as he is the Pierce Arrow guy.

1977 FKE 1 Enduro Kart Racer
Estimated Value
$5,000 - $10,000
Sold for 8500 plus commission.

Broke the Stanley steam "Rocket" speed record set in 1906 1977 Steamin' Demon Steam Streamliner
Estimated Value
$40,000 - $60,000
Sold for 50k plus commission.

1924 Brooks Model 2 Steam Sedan
Estimated Value
$45,000 - $55,000
Brooks are cool but known to be underpowered. This looks really nice. Fabric body.
Sold for 32k plus commission.

Ex-George Waterman and Winthrop Rockefeller's Petit Jean Mountain collection 1903 Duryea Three-Wheel Phaeton
Estimated Value
$60,000 - $70,000
Sold for 100k plus commission.

1903 Cameron Runabout
Estimated Value
$50,000 - $70,000
Sold for 45k plus commission.

"Baby Duesenberg" Prototype, E.L. Cord's Personal Car 1936 Cord Experimental Limousine
Estimated Value
$450,000 - $650,000
I call this a Lebaron bodied Cord.
Sold for 320k plus commission.
@alsancle do any of these lots look like deals to you?

The Brooks at 31k seems like a deal. It was really nice. The other cars have all sat forever so recommissioning will not be trivial. I'll need to think about it more.
Thank you. I thought the Chrysler 300 at 34k might be a decent deal also.

I might consider the 3 wheel Duryea well bought. Has a great history and London to Brighton eligble.

1923 Marmon Model 34 Four-Passenger Coupe Chassis no. 15230240 Engine no. 12735
Sold for
US$31,360
inc. premium
A lot more than what I thought it would bring.

I really like this car. It gives me off a little bit of the vibe of the model A Duesenberg coupe, the Dole family had for years, which now resides at the ACD museum.


John, good comparison. The Marmon did very well considering the aluminum block and sitting for 40 years. The 2" out of the Duesenberg roof and the name make it worth 30x the Marmon. That and being the first and perhaps most famous Model A.
Makes it more puzzling that this car can't find a home in the 10-20k range.

Yes, a very interesting car with top 1% looks for a closed car of that era......and apparently available for the price of a nicely restored visible gas pump.........a great example of "a car I want my buddy to buy"......

Laughing emoji required. "a car I want my buddy to buy" should be a canned response on here.

I have seen this Nash for sale for along time for not much money. Makes you wonder what is going on.

Remind me again, what is the exact year and model number of this Nash?

It is a 1924. Go to the AACA to get all the details:
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/427588-1924-nash-victoria-bodied-by-seaman-on-craiglist-columbia-sc-19000-price-drop-to-14000

This is a good thread on the AACA. That car needs a home.

I’m not sure we ever did answer what model or wheelbase it is. But it’s probably for the best that I have no spare garage space because I really like that car.

My theory is that it is not as imposing in person and that has somehow prevented it from find a home. The price is reasonable and it is SO COOL. There are so many common cars to mess with I would rather have something nobody else has. But in fairness, I can't find my wallet either...

Here is the serial number plate. We need a Nash expert to explain. I was a member of the club for years before I forgot to renew one year. I was after a 1932 model 1091.
This is the club page for 1924 models. The chassis number starting with a "3" matches but nothing else makes sense to me.
https://www.nashcarclub.org/1924-model/

Here’s the real issue for this Victoria, the same car in a roadster sold in this very auction for $9520 incl. premium. That doesn’t bode well for the value of a ratted out recommission project, I’m afraid.

So is this a one off body by Seamen (sent for custom coach body), or was Seamen doing bodies in house for all the Nash products of those years?

AJ, we’re sick. We were both on the Nash club page at the same time trying to find more info on this damn Victoria. 🤦🏻♂️

All of the Nash bodies were by Seaman. I think this car is a custom version of the standard four passenger coupe.


If I’m not mistaken, the 690 series was available in 121” or 127” wheelbase depending on body style. The tires on the car are big but the proportions still don’t quite seem to me that it would be the longer wheelbase.

HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH. Their google stats went wild for about 15 minutes.
I still can't figure out what this is. The "-2" on the plate makes me thing limited production.

Is it my imagination or do the wheels on the coupe seem bigger? That look different too. Where is the snap ring?

The state of the hobby? Almost nothing even reaching the low estimate except the circus side show Roth stuff. And obviously someone disagrees with me, but I'd take the blue Corvette over that Belvedere every time!

Remember, most of these cars have not run in decades. I think over 300k for the Franklin that has not run in 40 years is a pretty strong number. The Cord brought good money too. Look in the engine compartment to see a horror movie.

True, but that should be factored into the estimate. Seems like either the estimator is out of touch with the market, or estimating is just auction hype.

Auction company estimates are a game designed to make you pay more for a car than you would have otherwise. Sometimes they use high estimates so that when the car is stalled at 1/2 the low estimate guys jump in because they think they are getting a deal. They can go the other way with low estimates when they have something desirable and they want to get a lot of guys interested.
Don't read too much in to them. Better to compare the sale prices to other public prices. Admittedly hard with some of the cars today as they were rare and never seen.
For example, I think this vette was right around market at 50k.

63 corvettes......the one car that flips the script "if the top goes down, the price goes up"......

It is amazing to me the little bar through the rear window creates such a premium. We could maybe do a whole topic on the phenomenon. Inverse of the 56 Chevy were the additional stainless strip down the side causes a 40% price reduction.

Just mentioned that over in the Corvette club forum.

To think there was a time that people were paying to have that division bar removed....

Is that really true?

50k for this car was a good result. As a recent donation it doesn't have the stigma of "museum car" but it does have paint mismatch issues and has the base engine.

1902 Capitol Chariot Steam Car Chassis no. (See Text)
Sold for
US$72,800
inc. premium

This thing is really cool. Here are some more pictures. 73k is a good result for a very interesting early steam car.

I thought this was a very intriguing early steam car.

1951 Frazer F51 Manhattan Convertible Sedan Chassis no. F-516-B001105 Engine no. F 1050270
Sold for
US$33,600 inc. premium

33,600 for this car is very reasonable unless it is really tired and beat up in person. You rarely see these come to market and the last version like this one has the 2-barrell carb and GM 4 speed hydromatic which is a great transmission.

Maybe a bargain. Maybe not. These rarely come to market. This earlier version was sold by RM for the same money. And it ran.

Bill, these are an interesting fallback to the more expensive halo cars of 53/54. Cheaper and rarer. I like them but the powerplant is un-inspiring. A shame that Kaiser didn't use their supercharged six in them.

I’m happy to see the love that the 12 cylinder Franklin got. What a fabulous car, I’m a fan.

I'm not happy. I want one. Have a friend with a lot of great prewar cars and he was in on it. Bowed out 2/3 of the way through.
This car is an the golden example of the top of the hobby. Scarce, cool and NEVER available. First public offering since the Harrah's auctions 40 years ago. So if you happen to be a 60 or 70 year old billionaire and always wanted one now is the time to act.
Perhaps @mattgoist knows where the car went?

If he's doing his job he knows very well where this Franklin ended up 😋

Exactly what I was thinking.

Great car but a spectacular result. I had a friend with 100k burning a hole in his pocket and big dreams. They were crushed fairly quickly.

That sounds like me minus the 100k in my pocket. Waiting for @mattgoist to chime in and tell us they bought the car. I posted a link to the RM Limo selling this month I believe? Should be a much cheaper option.
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/s0626/lots/r0023-1933-franklin-series-17b-twelve-limousine/

1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III 40/50hp 4-Light Limousine Coachwork by Park Ward Chassis no. 3CP98 Engine no. C48Z Sold forUS$35,840 inc. premium
Well @SteveMackCT this was either the deal of the auction or a sink hole that will bankrupt even a rich guy. Depends on the state of the engine. Attractive for the PIII and a super low entry price makes it worth a shot. Problem is that there are maybe 3 or 4 shops in the US that can do that engine.

@alsancle I am going with engine needs a rebuild. Ahh feeling better now...

@NewOldWood Check this one out. 1914 Imp Model Z Cyclecar Chassis no. 7715 Engine no. 9205
Sold for US$78,400 including the premium. I would say a strong result? Cyclecars do every well.

Their next auction is around the corner and they have an experimental Cord on offer. I can't imagine this would have sold well (by modern eyes) and wonder if it would it would have never succeeded beyond their already limited amount.
https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/31959/preview-lot/6164555/1936-cord-experimental-cabriolet-chassis-no-0s2-1255/#photos

I like these Cords, but not everyone does. You'd think the coupe would bring in a lot more money than the sedan.

Thanks for pointing this out! It has slipped by me. The color choice on the Cord is very unfortunate. However I expect it to pull more money than the Sedan by a lot.
I'll start a topic on this auction in the same format as this topic. I think the structure makes for good discussion on the various cars.

My best friend had a 63 fuelie split window coupe. Took it through Topflite, Bloomington Gold and Vette fest Gold spinner.....triple crown. It was special. He bought it for 100 and sold it a couple years later for 145. That was a long time ago. There are Corvette guys who have "everything", except for the car "they don't have", and they will pony up $ for the rare quality examples.
63/64 roadsters are bottom of the price ladder for midyears.

Cars that check all the boxes always find a home at good numbers. triple crown fuelie split window checks a lot of boxes.
But the auction car was a nice original base model roadster. 50k is good money for a museum donation car.

Midyear corvettes are great looking cars. They made quite a few so that keeps prices from going into the stratosphere. I’ve often said if the 63 split window Coupe with a V8 had been put out by Alfa Romeo and they only made a couple hundred, they would be seven figure cars.

Some data on the model:
http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=1895&year=1924&model=14743
