The auction world is full of surprises, with big numbers and the odd bargain. Here are some of the highlights
1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal
Sold: $111,500
Silverstone
This Alfa Montreal had a recent resto by the vendor, an ex-Chief Mechanic for the TWR Jaguar sports car endurance team. He spent four years and 1000 hours on the car. The Bertone-designed Montreal 2+2 was the first supercar from the marque and sported headlight eyelids and NACA bonnet ducts. It features a 2.6lt competition-derived, quad-cam V8 engine mated to a 5-speed ZF gearbox. It sold with an official Alfa Romeo Authenticity Certificate.
1987 Ford Capri 2.8
Sold: $106,270
Silverstone
Near the end of production, the Capri grew in popularity. Its grunty V6 up front and rear-drive combo made it more fun to fling than a front-drive hot hatch. This one, with a mere 3617 miles on the clock is exceptionally rare. It claims to have never been driven in the rain. Developed by Ford Special Vehicle Engineering it has a 2.8lt V6 with fuel injection. It has tweaked suspension and wider alloys. It sold with a history file, and Letter of Provenance from its former owner from 2003.
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II
Sold: $570,000
RM Sothebys
Here’s the road-going version of the DTM championship-winning Benz, developed by Mercedes and Cosworth. A homologation special of which 502 were produced, this is build number 263. The Evo II cars feature a high-revving four-cylinder, 2.5lt, 173kW engine, a close ratio gearbox, adjustable suspension, four-piston brakes, and the wild aero kit.
1975 Pontiac Trans Am
Sold: $37,750
Mecum
With the price of 70s Aussie muscle cars and coupes out of reach for many, the States offers plenty of affordable choices. This ‘75 HO Pontiac TransAm sports a 455ci V8, four-speed manual and discs all round with a Positraction rear axle. One of just 857 made in this spec, it has undergone a recent resto and painted in its original Honduras Maroon with a refurbed black and burgundy cabin.
Auction watch – what’s moving & shaking
Honda Insight
Honda’s quirky, bug-shaped original Insight was a hybrid pioneer and more exclusive than a Lambo Aventador, with only 45 sold in Australia. All were manual – with a one-litre, 56kg three-cylinder, 56kW engine aided by Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system. Two seats limited its appeal as did its looks, ride, handling and battery replacement cost. It was complex and expensive to build. These elements are what are attracting newfound fans. New they were almost 50 grand, and one day they may be again. You’ll have a lot of explaining to do at Car and Coffee events.
From Unique Cars #474, Jan 2023