Dateline: 8.20.11
Buyers “Bought Well” at the RM Auctions Monterey Event
Well this was the first car auction I ever watched “live” online. I have to say that the interface on the RMAuctions.com was fall-off-a-log simple and played all the way through without a burp. The auctioneers were quite different from the local farm auctions where I’ve spend many a Wednesday evening. You could actually understand what the RM auctioneers are saying and they were so polite. Not that I was expecting an R-rated show, but it all was quite “proper.”
But a lot of fun just the same. And I appreciated how you got to see the cars rolled up on the turntable, so you got to see them from all angles. Plus they showed close-up interior, engine, and suspension photos. Most of the cars had been meticulously well maintained and restored. One 289 Cobra that had obviously been raced, had it’s original paint, minus a few scrapes here and there. The auctioneer humorously quipped, “I just LOVE the patina on the original paint!”
The Greenwood #49 1969 427 ZL-1 B.F. Goodrich Corvette was the 44th car to go on the block. Most of cars 100 to 143 were “pushed” up and on to the turntable and those that were driven were so quiet you couldn’t tell if the engines were running. But as the Greenwood car was being introduced, there was THUNDER in the wings! They DROVE the open headered Corvette on to the turntable! When the ZL-1 was shut off, the auctioneer said, “It doesn’t get any cooler than that! 750-horsepower, ladies and gentlemen!” Corvette race cars SO ROCK!
Here are the five Corvettes that sold…
SOLD: $580,000 – The pre-auction speculation proved to be way off. Some publications speculated that the Greenwood #49 Corvette race car would sell for between $750,000 and $795,000. The auctioneer really, really tried. He opened the bid at $250,000, and briskly went to $300,000, then $350,000, then $400,000, then $425,000, $450,000, and $475,000… Then was sluggish to $500,000, $525,00, then $550,000. The rise to $560,000 very was slow. Then the price briskly went to $570,000, topped out at $580,000, and was SOLD!
For full details, CLICK HERE.
SOLD: $80,000 – This car only had 750 miles on it and had won NCRS Top Flight awards! Bidding started at $25,000 and briskly went to $60,000, then $70,000, and stalled out at $75,000. It was very slow to $80,000 where the car SOLD.
For full details, CLICK HERE.
SOLD: $52,500 – RM Auctions clearly likes to drive the race cars on the to the table. A little VROOM-VROOM and car exhaust stokes the crowd. Opening bid was $30,000 and went to$35,000, $40,000, and $45,000, but was very slow to $50,000. After a lot of prodding by the auctioneer, the price went to $52,500 and SOLD. At one point, the auctioneer said, “You can’t even prep a car like this for $50,000!”
For full details, CLICK HERE.
SOLD: $80,000 – Another dramatic race car entrance. “VROOM! VROOM!!! After the engine was shut off the auctionere said, “Does that sound mean, or WHAT?!” The opening bid was $40,000 and was slow to $50,000, slow to $60,000. Then required a lot of coaxing to get to $65,000 and quickly went to $70,000, $75,000, and slowly to $80,000 where it SOLD.
For full details, CLICK HERE.
NO SALE AT $130,000 – This sinister-looking black ‘59 Corvette Fuelie racer had been restored in ‘71. BIdding opened at $50,000 and very quickly went to $120,000, then stopped. After a little encouragement from the auctioneer, the price topped out at $130,000. Unfortunately for the high bidder, $130,000 didn’t meet the reserve, so it was a NO SALE.
For full details, CLICK HERE.
Well I enjoyed the show! It was a fun way for a car guy to spend a Friday night! – Scott
PS – The Steve McQueen 1970 911C Porsche, the car he drove as his street ride in the movie, “Le Mans,” sold for $1,250,000!
Check out our collection of C1 to C6 Corvette parchment paper and laser-etched art prints HERE.
