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Bonhams & Butterfields at Quail Lodge 15th August 2003 - Review

With some of Bonhams’ highlighted lots not selling at the Pebble Beach weekend, the house still managed to move a fair percentage of cars on to new owners including a 1938 Lagonda LG6 Drophead Coupé for $137,000, a late entry 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster for $170,000 and the fantastic 1932 Ford Hot Rod, The "Ricky Nelson Roadster", for $192,000.

It has been said that RM dominated auction proceedings at Monterey however both Christie’s and Bonhams must feel happy with a reasonable degree of success at the event. Neither the low-mileage Ford GT40 or the ex-works Alfa T33 were sold, nor were the two top Ferraris the 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SII, ex-Nelson Rockefeller and the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale.

The 1938 Lagonda LG6 Drophead Coupé was part of the Robert Hood Collection that formed a sub-section of Bonhams’ sale. Bought in a nice piece of symmetry as a ‘barn find’ at a Brooks sale in 1995, the car was then totally restored in the USA by Hood’s long-time confederate John Swaisland and completed in 1999. Estimated at $150 – 180,000 the car was sold at $137,000, a fair price for the model.

The "Ricky Nelson Roadster" was sold on the high end of the estimate but clearly a very well presented car that is a perfect example of the genre, and one that has been exhibited at Pebble Beach in the past.

Ferrari’s 275GTS (not to be confused with the NART Spyder based on the 275GTB/4 model) is always an attractive purchase and combines the big capacity V12 Ferrari engine with almost feline convertible lines. The 1965 Ferrari 275GTS auctioned by Bonhams reached $157,500, still a reasonable price many would think for V12 convertible motoring with the prancing horse on the bonnet and boot.

Other items sold included a 2001 Bentley Arnage Le Mans Four-Door Saloon for $117,200, a 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Newmarket Convertible Sedan for $115,000 and a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV $89,700 – good price for the model at auction.

For a full listing, see the Provisional Auction Results

Bonhams next Sale is at the Goodwood Revival race meeting on 5th September.

Text - Steve Wakefield