2010 RM Auctions- Automobiles of Arizona preview

For the 11th year running, RM Auctions will hold its annual Automobiles of Arizona auction on the 21st and 22nd of January. For the first time, this year’s event will be spread over two days, with the first day being devoted wholly to British cars. The event kicks off the year for RM Auctions, and will certainly serve as an interesting barometer for the state of the market in the year to come.

The British car auction on the Thursday night is dominated, as you’d expect, by the usual British sportscar brigade, with all the usual suspects; Jaguars from XK120 through to E-type, Big Healeys, MGs of all shape and size, Triumph, Morgan and Allard, the majority of which are offered without reserve. There are certainly a few standout cars in this selection though, the pick of which is the last ever Aston Martin DB4 GT, chassis number # 0175.
# 0175 is a very special car, being one of only 6 ever made to full Factory Lightweight specifications. The weight reduction of these cars was achieved by replacing many steel parts with aluminium, by judicious use of “hole-cutting”, and by the deletion of many other components. Who needs a window washer or glove-box lid anyway? The car was totally restored and race prepared in 1995, and has many historic racing victories to its name. An excellent entry to the world’s best motoring events, at an estimate of around $1 million USD.

Other highlights in the British car auction include a DB4 race car with many modern safety and performance components and a 416bhp engine, a DB4 GT Zagato Replica (est $300,000 – $450,000 USD), and a 1964 Jaguar E-Type “Semi-Lightweight” race car which was specified from new with all the desirable racing modifications, and sympathetically upgraded over the following forty years (est $300,000 – $400,000).

Most of the really interesting (though possibly less useable) stuff is reserved for the Friday auction however, with a range of Detroit concept cars due to cross the block, including four from the “Dream Machine” 50s, when the sky really was the limit when it came to styling, and one very interesting concept from the 90s.
The most important of these concepts, and considered by many to be one of the most significant concept cars ever produced, is the 1954 Mercury XM-800. A dramatic two-door hardtop, its futuristic design influenced most American cars of the next few years, and introduced such features as the forward sloping A-pillars and wrap-around windscreen, functional hood scoop, and aerodynamic fender skirts. A unique car, subject to a nut-and-bolt restoration, and of immense historical importance, this car’s estimate is ‘available upon request’ (that’ll be millions then).

Other concept cars from the 50s include the 1958 Cadillac “Raindrop” convertible, which could automatically raise it’s hardtop roof at the first raindrop it felt (est $250,000 – $300,000 USD), and the 1956 Cadillac Maharani Special, which featured a fridge, hotplate, folding table, coffee dispenser, and kitchen sink with running water. Sounds like a bargain at an estimated $150,000 – $200,000 USD.

Chrysler’s 1956 “Plainsman” concept car was designed by Virgil Exner and crafted by Ghia. A response to the growing station wagon market, it is a two door car supposedly reflecting the “colorful [sic] and casual way of life that typifies the nation’s westward movement” according to the contemporary promotional material. Another one-off show car, the car is fascinating for its subsequent life. To avoid paying duty on the car Chrysler loaned it to a gentleman in Cuba, and it was then bought by a Chrysler employee living in Cuba. When he was forced to flee Cuba he took the car with him to Australia, where it was converted to RHD and fitted with a 440 cube V8. On return to the USA it was driven regularly as a family car, before eventually being sold on and converted back to LHD. It remains street legal and is completely original. The consignor of the car encourages a complete cosmetic restoration. What a cool car. Estimate is $250,000 – $300,000 USD.
Fellow fans of the classic video game Gran Turismo 2 will no doubt remember fondly the Ford GT90. From memory it was a pretty hard car to win in the game, and then was pretty tricky to handle anyway, but looked pretty stunning. Well, here’s your chance to own the real thing, as the only GT90 ever built is up for sale at this auction. With 720bhp from a 6.0 litre quad-turbocharged V12, and supposedly the “world’s mightiest supercar”, the car is probably more notable for introducing Ford’s ‘edge’ styling theme, which produced some pretty good looking cars to my eyes, including Focus, Mondeo and Cougar. Another lot with ‘estimates available upon request’, this car will easily break the million dollar mark.

Not many cars can wear the tag ‘legend’ easily, but the car which is undoubtedly the highlight of the Automobiles of Arizona auction was built to wear that label. CSX 2196 was originally a 289 Shelby Cobra, but when the racing competition started to get more threatening during 1963, the decision was made to stuff a 427 engine in it to see what it could do. Legend has it that Carroll Shelby took it for a test drive, got out, and simply said “make it a race car”. Months of testing, strengthening, racing, strengthening, and more testing and strengthening followed, and eventually the car was fitted with a unique clam shell design body, with both boot and bonnet hinging at the cars extremities for easy access to the mechanicals, and both doors simply flipping down from their lower edge, giving the car its “flip-top” nickname. This car is the only Cobra 427 prototype ever made, and one of the most important cars in history, in this writer’s humble opinion. Oh, and did I mention that it has 623bhp from its aluminium block V8? Yes, estimate is available upon request. I would expect at least $3 million USD for this car, but if that’s too much there is a ‘normal’ 427 Cobra in the auction at an estimated $650,000 – $770,000 USD in a lovely black on black colour scheme.

All this is a bit rich for my blood, but I’d be tempted by the 1963 BMC Technical Support Vehicle at an estimate of $115,000 – $145,000 USD. One of only 8 remaining, these vehicles were designed to carry a car to an event and provide logistical support. Transporters can be very boring, but these ones were styled by Pininfarina, and it shows. Flowing lines and beautifully sculpted alloy panels lead down to small tail fins and chrome bumpers. What better way to take your race car to Goodwood?

Pictures courtesy RM Auctions and associated photographers.

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