Read about Italian Automobiles: Ferrari, Maserati, Abarth, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, OSCA, Zagato, Ghia, Pininfarina, F1 Racing and more...

   You found VeloceToday's OLD website.
Please visit VeloceToday's New Website for the latest articles, news and more...




NOTE: You are viewing the OLD VeloceToday website. We are in the process of moving some of the old articles from the OLD site to the NEW site.





Home Cars Racing News People Lifestyle Events


Cars


Collector Cars International/ eBay-Kruse Auction - Branson, Missouri, October 19-21, 2001
by Rick Carey
. . . . . . .

First, a confession.

Your crusading (auction) reporter became part of the problem at Branson, spending the entire weekend on the auction block introducing the cars. I left with a new-found appreciation for the work of the auction promoter (in this case Jim and Kathy Cox of Collector Cars International), who assemble the consignments, bring the bidders and arrange and manage the venue, and the block crew (Dan Kruse, Brent Earlywine and Rod Egan backed up by Becky Rose in the office and a host of incredibly hard working staffers on the block). This is an event, like a concert, play or large meeting, that's managed with hard work and a sensitivity to the mood of the audience that's remarkable.

After more than a decade watching auctions it was an eye-opening experience to be an active participant and my appreciation of, and respect for, the abilities, efforts and skill of those in the auction business has grown by an order of magnitude.

Now, down to business - well, sort of. Coming just six weeks after September Eleven, Branson was something of a bellwether. The Coxes had assembled a good range of consignments and their efforts and the Middle-American attraction of Branson (a subject deserving a separate treatment of its own) brought a record number of registered bidders. In the end, eliminating re-runs, 167 of 278 automotive lots offered were sold, a very respectable sale percentage of 60.1% and a total, including 5% buyer's commission, of $2,152,973. One further lot was sold after the auction, a like-new Country Coach motorhome that brought something on the order of $½ million. Reflecting the kind of consignments, the average sale was $12,300 with commission; the median sale was $9,450.

The weekend's top sale was the GTD40 at $64,050 which is described below. "Diverse consignments" is something of an understatement. From an Isetta 300 (sold $11,865) to a '63 Split Window Fuelie Corvette (no sale at $47,500), an immaculate 1985 AACA-winning '49 Crosley convertible (sold at $8,715) to a Shelby GT500KR Convertible (no sale at $71,000), a Pontiac Fiero GT (sold for $2,783) to a Dino 308GT4 (sold for $18,113), a one-owner '65 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible with 390/330hp V8 and 3-speed (sold for $8,400) to a 1937 Ford "Express" pickup (sold for $12,600).

Don Williams and Richie Clyne's Hershey Auction two weeks before Branson showed there's still money for quality classics; Branson demonstrated the average enthusiast is still in the market for fun, usable modestly-priced cars. With a little encouragement from quality introductions.

. . . . . . .

1965 GTD GT 40 MkI Replica Coupe

Lot # 175 1965 GTD GT 40 MkI Replica Coupe; S/N 0432SBLAU66; Black / Grey leather; Rebodied or re-created, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 5.00%; Final Price: $64,050 -- Freshly built GTD40 replica with Ford 302 SVO crate engine, 4-barrel carb, 180 degree exhaust system, A/C and Audi 5-speed transmission. Superbly constructed to a very high standard, excellent paint and interior -- although the luxury seats don't give much headroom and may require a Gurney-bubble in the top of the door. With even street-version Mk IIIs bringing $300,000 or so the "ordinary" enthusiast is priced out of the market for a real GT40. While not having much in the way of investment potential, high quality replicas like this are an understandable indulgence and much more practical and economical for weekend fun, or even a fast commuter car, than the real thing. With a bulletproof Ford crate motor, a 1-year warranty from Audi on the transaxle, working R134 air conditioning to offset the GT40's abysmal ventilation and construction quality that would embarrass the Ford SV crew at Slough the new owner is going to have a barrel of fun at a very reasonable cost and should, if the occasion arises, be able to find a similarly-inclined enthusiast willing to part with comparable money for a dose of driving exhilaration. -- Collector Cars Int'l/eBay-Kruse, Branson, 10/21/2001.

. . . . . . .

1950 Crosley Hot Shot Roadster

Lot # 131 1950 Crosley Hot Shot Roadster; S/N 115062; Red / White, Black, White top; Unrestored original, 3- condition;; Hammered Sold at $6,600 plus commission of 5.00%; Final Price: $6,930 -- Dual spotlights, heater, radio, doors. Seemingly entirely original Hot Shot fully accessorized and embellished with period chrome trim including wheel arch eyebrows. Dull original paint, worn and tired interior, yellowed top but sound throughout. If the lights, spotlights, radio and heater fan are running simultaneously the poor engine probably stalls, but this is the neatest and most original Hot Shot seen in a long, long time and is remarkably complete, even to its metal doors. A great little time capsule; how it survived 51 years without being butchered is a wonder. The first Sebring Six Hours was run to an Index of Performance formula and a Crosley Hot Shot was declared the overall winner even though it completed only 89 laps, being lapped some twenty times by the Fred Wacker/Frank Burrell Cad-Allard. This price is appropriate for a decent Hot Shot but considering this example's exceptional originality and comprehensive equipment it is a real bargain. A "post-war preservation class" candidate that would be ruined by restoration. -- Collector Cars Int'l/eBay-Kruse, Branson, 10/21/2001 .





Past Issues



Date
Topic


1-16-08
Ferrari 712 Can Am


1-6-08
Articles on or about OSCA


1-6-08
Articles on or about Maserati


1-6-08
Articles on or about Lancia


1-6-08
Articles on or about Fiat


12-19-7
Fiat Dino, Body


12-19-7
Fiat Dino, Chassis


12-12-07
Serenissima F1


10-31-07
Winningest OSCA


10-24-07
Alfa 164 V10


10-17-07
Ramponi's Delage


10-17-07
OSCA Berlinettas


10-3-07
Maserati 250F Remembered


9-26-07
Lancia Rally Delta and Integrale


9-26-07
Lancia Rally 037 and S4


8-29-07
Alpine Adventures


8-08-07
Bandini, Giaurs, Siatas etc.


7-18-07
Alpine A110


7-11-07
Classic Fiat 500s in Turin


7-11-07
New Fiat 500 hits the streets


7-11-07
New Fiat 500 Intro


7-04-07
Fiat 500 Restoration


6-27-07
Fiat 500 pushed and pulled


6-13-07
Fiat 500 Art


6-13-07
Giulietta Sprint Veloce Part 2


6-6-07
Giulietta Sprint Veloce Part 1


6-6-07
Fortune 500 (Fiat)


4-18-07
Giulietta Racing Part 2


4-11-07
Giulietta Racing P1


4-4-07
Appia Specials


4-4-07
Appia Series 3


2-21-07
Appia Series 2


2-14-07
Appia Restoration


2-07-07
Appia Series 1


1-24-07
Kalikow on the 612K


1-10-07
Articles on Alfa Romeo


1-03-07
Fiat Balilla Berlinetta



Advertising


New Website Features

  • Search articles and archives

  • Submit your comments to a specific article

  • Email an article to a friend

  • Browse real time classifieds from Hemmings and Ebay

  • Shop at VeloceToday's Store for Books and more

To see these new features in action visit the new website at: www.VeloceToday.com