Just back from the OLdrtimer GP on the Nurburgring. It is known that Germany is not the best compound for auction houses. But what COYS offered in their auction at the `Ring this weekend was a disaster. Despite a very nice ANSA everything else was C R A P!!!! The announced yellow BORA from Sweden did not show up and this, this...somethingorwhateveritis...junk was offered as a "450S replica" and the catalogue description really refered to the history of the real 450S. OK, if Germany doesn`t acknowledge auctions why does COYS bring this BS then? Would have been better to stay at home! Image Unavailable, Please Login
That was going to be my only response to Walter also - the ATS in the background is at least historically "significant" and was well bought at RM in London (I think) a few years ago. Did you see what it made Walter? Totally agree on Frankensteins 450S in the foreground. As an aside Walter - Germany and auctions. I had never really thought about it before but you are right. Why are auctions so out of vogue in Germany? It is doubly interesting when I think of some of the fabulous collections (H.I, W.B, the Brothers R and more beyond) that have been developed there quite recently.
So I suspected. But I've never seen one in person and have only seen a few photos. So just from the rarity of the ATS -- there was at least one special car at the auction. As an aside, I don't have a great big problem with replicas, assuming that they are done well, advertised as such, and priced sensibly.
The red ATS was in an excellent condition - in and outside. With buyers premium and tax it made about 420.000,--. Great little car. I agree to Walter, it was a shame what Coys brought to the "Nürburgring". 5 or 6 replicas, the so called "Maserati 450 S" was announced as: "A magical evocation". An interested guy made a bid of 85.000,-- for this sh.. Not sold! Unbeliveable....
That's all? I'm surprised. I'd have guessed €600.000 or more. They turned that down? They should have taken the money and ran away fast. I would expect maybe €60.000 to be a great price. There may be more to the car than meets the eye. Possibly, some large part of the mechanicals can be identified and traced to a real 450?
I don´t think that 1 original screw came from the 450 S, the engine comes from a `67 Quattroporte (107.1280).
I think Germany has now the biggest number of significant Maserati race cars worldwide. Good question why the Germans doesn`t like auctions. Perhaps its a matter of trust.
I can not understand why someone build this kind of crap! The chassis-tubes were as thick as the guns of the "Bismarck""!
Is it possible that people who create those fake cars, can't really sell them privately so they have to go to these auctions to sell them? I am sure that there are people out there who don't know what they are buying, so some fakes will get sold eventually. Maybe a replica appeals to people who don't really care about the cars but just want the attention that they bring.
Mecum is nothing compared to Russo and Steele. It is like attending a World Wrestling Federation Smackdown, directed by David Lynch. Bizarre.
You are right, my friend who joined me, corrected me. On the way home from the "Nürburgring" to Cologne I lost about 100.000,--, the final auction price was little more than 500.000,--. Sorry for the mistake.
There are a few guys here that apparently feel very strongly against replicas. I can understand that maybe it dilutes the brand's cachet. But for me, as long as the car is represented to be a replica and it is well done -- I am perfectly comfortable with it. There are not likely to be that many built anyway. A number of desirable vehicles are just out of the reach of the average "car guy", but he can still have a big part of the experience with a replica. For example: 1. [EXTRA_SCOPUM_MASERATI] In the USA there are replica Carroll Shelby Cobras and Bill Thomas Cheetahs. To me they look like they could be great cars. [/EXTRA_SCOPUM_MASERATI] 2. One of our fellow F-chatters has built an update on the Birdcage that I have seen in person a few times during its construction. I can attest that the job is absolutely excellent in every respect. I have not yet seen the finished car but I am looking forward to it.
I met a woman from Koln once while travelling in South America. From the photos she showed me it seems like a beautiful city. (She was certainly a beautiful woman). I'd like to make at least one more trip through Europe and hopefully that will be one of my stops. The Nürburgring I've not been to either. However this past opera season I did see the complete cycle of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, (which sounds pretty similar to one who does not speak German). But back to cars ...
