$18,700
Avg. selling
price: $19,000
OLDSMOBILE
Year: 1930
Model: DD Business Coupe
Condition: Restored/#2+
Reserve: None
Selling price:
$35, 200
Avg. selling
price: $13,000
DODGE
Year: 1918
Model: Sport Touring
Condition: Restored/#2
Reserve: None
ROAMER
Selling price:
$68,750
Avg. selling
price: N/A
Year: 1916
Model: 41 Club Runabout
Condition: Restored/#4
Reserve: None
BREWSTER
Selling price:
$37, 400
Avg. selling
price: N/A
With the exception of a small chip on
the edge of the hood and an all but
evaporated ring of trim around the
right-rear door vent window, there
was nothing to indicate to anyone
that this Oldsmobile would sell fewer
than 20 large. Panel alignment and
fit—even all four doors—were spot-
on perfect, the interior was immacu-
late (further protected by clear seat
covers) and the wheel covers were
free of road hazard damage. Its only
downfall could only be explained by
the addition of two rear doors; sedans
generally fall short on the demand
list. Whether the 36,000 miles show-
ing were original or the start of a second trip on the odometer should not
have been much of a factor either. In
short, a bargain.
It’s not often that you find an early
Dodge, never mind a business coupe,
which is probably why this surpassed
book values and the house estimates
by a wide margin. Aiding the sale was
the documented 336 miles since its
1979 restoration, multiple awards in
1982 and ’ 84, and its hibernation in
the Crawford Museum since 1991.
This latter fact could have been a
demerit—prolonged museum life is
generally hard on the drivetrain—but
its overall condition seemed to have
pushed that view aside. Our list of
nits was two: a radiator shell needing
some elbow grease and a tiny chip on
a rain rail. Hardly worth mentioning.
This four-passenger rarity, believe
it or not, failed to reach the house
estimate. Behind the Roamer’s
Rolls-Royce like grille sat a 54hp
Continental six-cylinder, which
according to the description, had
not powered any miles onto the
odometer since its restoration was
completed, with no indication as to
when that was. That said, it did roll
a few on over the weekend in order
to get from the preview garage to
the block. To sum up its condition:
simply stunning, from the top all the
way to the chassis. Perhaps a few too
many swirls in the paint for our liking
(and minimal usage) and a chip or
two in direct correlation with rotating
wheels, but nothing that bidders were
concerned with.
A bona fide rarity from a company
better known for their coachwork
than their own line of automobiles,
and for relatively little money. A well-aged restoration, the Brewster’s tired
appearance could fill pages with
stories about its motoring past. But
even in the poor lighting of the park-
ing garage, it had a certain charm,
as if begging for another shot at the
open road. With stained running
boards, swirl-laden red paint, admittedly smaller wheels and nickel-sized
chips in the paint, it’s currently one of
three—possibly four—known Model
41 Club Runabouts left to exist from
a production run of just 242 (from
1915-’ 19). One positive for the new
owner: The 40hp four-cylinder engine
was recently rebuilt.
Year: 1928
Model: FB President
Condition: Restored/#1
Reserve: None
Selling price:
$29,700
Avg. selling
price: $38,000
STUDEBAKER
Year: 1936
Model: Master Six
Condition: Restored/#3
Reserve: None
PONTIAC
Selling price:
$19,800
Avg. selling
price: $10,000
Year: 1950
Model: Series 62
Condition: Restored/#3
Reserve: Undisclosed
CADILLAC
Selling price:
$63, 250
Avg. selling
price: $51,000
Year: 1953
Model: Hornet
Condition: Restored/#3
Reserve: Undisclosed
HUDSON
Top price bid:
$48,500/not sold
Avg. selling
price: $20,000
If you’re not up to speed as to which
cars are listed as “Full Classics” by
the CCCA, then you might be sur-
prised to learn that this State Victoria
made the cut. The FB exhibited here
was actually a mid-year release in
1928 for the early ’ 29 model year. Its
small 121-inch wheelbase chassis
(versus 131-inch FA) cradled a 109hp
337.5-cu.in. straight-eight, made obvious in part by the circled “ 8” within
the headlamp crossbar. Particulars
aside, this example fell short of pre-auction expectations in spite of its
absolutely stunning restoration that
had been completed 10 years ago. It
sold cheap; either we missed some-
thing or the bidders did.
Listed as Lot #601, it had the distinct
honor of being the first car to cross
the block at this year’s auction, and
it was probably fitting given that this
deluxe coupe was the lightest and
cheapest Pontiac produced in 1936.
A recipient of an older restoration, it
was driven with regularity judging by
the wear it exhibited prior to its sale.
It also sat quietly in the Crawford
Auto Aviation Museum since 1991,
accumulating a few more polishing
swirls in the last decade or so. Still,
Thirties coupes are still eye catchers:
Nearly double book value is a strong
opening bid. There are two paths the
new owner can take: Drive it as is
and enjoy it on tours, or treat it to a
fresh restoration.
Nearly 7,000 of these convertibles
were assembled in 1950, so finding
another will not be difficult. At this
point, however, just about any Series
62 convertible is going to sell above
book. Just how much will boil down
to condition. As for the French Gray
model that crossed the block at RM,
it was clearly the subject of an older
restoration that had been thoroughly
enjoyed since. Telltale signs included
the elbow wear on the left door
frame, a slightly skewed door and
a left fender that looked as if it had
been retouched (orange peel). The
rest of the two-tone leather interior
was striking and clean. It was a car
that would certainly raise a few eyebrows at any local event.
About the only explanation for a 140
percent overbid is the backlash from
the Pixar film Cars. Sure, there’s plen-
ty of racing history, distinctive for the
time step-down design and fabled
Twin-H power, but none of that is
unique to this single vehicle. All that
aside, this example had reportedly
been professionally restored to a high
quality. Just when that was had not
been disclosed on the data card, and
time had since left the engine bay
used (but better than most that are
driven regularly), the trunk lid askew,
the paint a little tired and a few rub
marks on the hood edges. The two-
tone leather interior, conversely, was
in remarkable condition.
