Monterey auction thread (the '24 edition)

I don't need or even want "many", just a few (less than 5), but they're all way out my league now.
You know, quality over quantity.
I'm not a hoarder (used to be one over 35 years ago with nearly 30 vintage cars, but realized I didn't & likely never will have enough time or money to devote to all of them adequately).

 

In a relative pricing sector, Dino is absolutely the best balance of beauty, maintenance, and rust.
A Stratos? Excusive, yet a special flavour, Hot Rod Dino.

What other car can you buy with all these plusses? Clearly Italian, and not in the 7 figures, what?
Cannot compare 275 vs 365/4, too much of a price differential. it is a 2fer, if not a 3fer, not fair.

Maybe Miura vs. 275. It really a matter of $ and taste, or.....

Regards, Alberto

 

miura s or sv for the win. perfect design.

 

Horrid car, no matter if restored by God's little brother. Beautiful, drop dead gorgeous, sauna interior, Mr. Lamborghini
made the most amazing impractical car ever, mechanically, well better not get into that.

A perfect car to get kidnapped in, during the Red Brigades offensive against Italian industrialists,
Tractors were better. No engine fires.

Used to get rides to school by my mate's father in Italy, (3 aboard) sometimes we did arrive, others, not really.
A Multipla taxi was the fall back means.
He dumped the car way back then. Bought a Ferrari. A 275. No more rides.

 

Charlie was visibly annoyed on both nights, probably not happy with the estimates, reserves and sell through rate.

 

It happened with everything collectible around that time. I bought a 1969 Rolex red Sub for about 7k around that time. It's value went up by 6-7x. Madness all around. I like all these things (cars, watches, guitars, etc etc) when the values stay low and people can actually use them. I hate the idea of things sitting is cases and garages getting ogled and polished but never used because they're "too valuable".

Side note: No matter how much you pay for something, if you feel its too valuable to use, you can't afford it.

 

Not if there is a generational shift away from the 60's-70's cars (which does seem to be happening). Let the tech bros pay untold millions for F40's and La Ferrari's, while us paupers buy their discarded 250's, 275's, 330's, and 365's for pennies on the dollar! Please!!!

But really...in 10 years I'll be 60. How many people born after 1974 are going to be that interested in cars from the that year and earlier? How many willl even know how to drive them?!

How many of you guys born in 1950 or 1960 want cars from the 40's?

 

I agree I think we're seeing a generational shift. I was born in the 80s and my friends of similar age don't know or care about cars from the 1960s let alone 70s. McLaren F1 is the holy grail for me just like the 250 GTO is for those before me, but I still love the GTO. Not that I'll ever be in a position to own any of those, but my interests are more in the 90s for sure and I can't have it all so that's where I focus on my buying. The Pcars and Lcars seem to be going for crazy money this past week while the rest slump...generational shift is only explanation I can come up with.

 

100% agree. Luckily (?) for me I've always been a bit anachronistic in my tastes....60's and early 70's being favourites. I don't have real hopes of owning a 275 GTB or 400 Superamerica, but I'd be thrilled if nice 330 GTC's got down into the 200-300 range, or quality 365 QM's and C/4's went solidly sub 200k again (which feels close actually).

 

I think we have the same budget, but for me I will probably end up spending it on an F355 Challenge. The F355 and F50 were the ones I loved in the 90s and F50s are now $5m+ and crazy and no hope to reach. Hopefully the F355 Challenges don't skyrocket, but I'm sure I jinxed myself. Doesn't help I'm very particular in wanting a '98 Evo/factory car among other small details I look for.

 

Did Gooding sell the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Touring?

 

I think part of the issue, is the new Gens. are not interested in Weber carbs, and setting your valve clearances, plugs, in 2 days.
Not to mention someone that will work with tools and not a PC. They are also going away... to another world.

The clackety clack of 50's, 60's and up to '74/maybe '5, engines are a dream, but they probably sound terrible to them.

When growing up, my dad brought home "Twist and Shout" and my 'operatic groupie' granmama plugged hear ears!
I hated opera, now I love it. Tastes do evolve, hopefully for the better. I cannot tolerate 500 pages operating manuals, when my Alfa had 36.
Dino, maybe 60 pages?
Manuals, really unneeded by the new young ones, as no need to even communicate.Dashes that look like a game? Scary...
Just read the criticism ladled by the journos, and they barely approve 2 or 3 dashes.

"Generational shift is only explanation I can come up with". I tend to agree but not overnight, maybe a few years,
but not enough to justify the dismal results at M.rey.

If I had the lots of $ I would gladly but any of the 'leftover' (and it is quite a list) of NS cars. Imagine the 911RS Carrera?
Assortment of Ferrari fabulous machines driven by incredible drivers? Dreamy....
Now, who drove the F-40? Who cares.

If I sold 1 Dino now, it would pay for all (most ) of the cars I have acquired in the past 40 years.

Regards, Alberto

 

its a generational shift until the youngin’s mature, then the 50’, 60’s
and 70’s will be all the rage again.

 

then again, i still dont listen to the beatles or Elvis or Sinatra.

 

Look at the latest cover of the UK Sports car mag, and what is the hot advice? the 360. Get them while you can, like tomorrow

 

Rap and reggaeton...I knew it Ed!

Regards, Alberto

 

fidy, fify, fifty , ah c’mon man, you know the thing.

 

Yup, Daddy something, $ and cents, Yankee...etc...real XXX rated. I am cool.
I like Hendrix, Clapton, Di Stefano, Callas, Hollies. Verdi...

 

Part of the simple mechanics of the older cars imo is what will keep them valuable for many years among true gen X/millennial enthusiasts after the reliving childhood dream car phase of them dies off. For example, I have two electronic-heavy cars that are 25 years old and I'm pretty sure I'm screwed in the coming years when they start failing. At that point I will revert to even older cars to fulfill my car desires rather than switch to modern EV. This may cause a resurgence in the value of those 60s cars in probably 20 years. I'm already thinking of a first gen Camaro, Datsun 240Z, and recreation GT40 in probably 20 years from now after my R34 GTR and E38 Alpina become too much of a PITA to deal with upkeep.

Eh...360 is okay. I like them, but not love them like the F355. I passed on a CS back in '21 for $185k and it's about $285k today...no regrets...just doesn't make me feel the same way that the gated F355 does. Only post-2000 Fcar I think looks good is the Pista. It looks so much like an original GT40 to me, which I absolutely adore. My favorite American car of all time.

 

Again, I'm 35 and I always laugh at those of you who build the argument that in order to love older cars you must love looking at manuals and setting carburettors etc...

I have no mechanical proclivities. If I were a bilionnaire heir, I'd be paying people to keep the cars up so I could drive them. No one here can tell me I wouldn't be enjoying them a whole lot. You don't need to be in love with the way the object works to be in love with the object, though it can help.

I'm happy with an 60's Alfa GTV which might be in my range in a few years. I have no idea how to fix it if it breaks, but there are good mechanics around and they need jobs too.

 

I equate vintage cars to artists of the past. Some artists were high production and others low, but the significant artists of each of the hundreds of periods are still in demand even centuries after they lived and their style was “relevant” or in vogue. Titian, Raphael, and Caravaggio still sell for significant sums despite being very dated and out of style for hundreds of years now. Ab-ex is some 75-80 years old now and Rothko, Motherwell, Pollock, and Still are commanding more money than ever despite not being modern. Same with countless others and including low production artists through Picasso or Warhol who produced over 10-15,000 pieces in their lifetimes. When I look at a Ferrari I see kinetic art and a mastery of an artistic period. I think the important cars from the 50s and 60s are very similar to say the drip paintings of Pollock that absolutely transcend time. Sure other pieces were made by both artists over time but the low production stellar pieces will, or should, always stand up to time and fads.

 

This one? It's the only 8C 2900 listed by Gooding

https://bid.goodingco.com/lots/view/1-9D6I6E/1938-alfa-romeo-8c-2900b-lungo-spider

 

Fair points here. One of the issues is everyone thinks as an investor now when it comes to classic cars.
Even enthusiasts of older cars will rather buy a 550 Maranello or 355 Challenge than an older Ferrari as, at least, they won't lose money on the car.
But the trick is how much you enjoy them as every mile will impact their value. 25K miles is seen as high mileage on a supercar like an F50.

Finding anyone willing to buy a Ferrari 212 or 250TdF is almost mission impossible. In this range, the car must be classiche, matching colours etc... All notions that mostly speak to investors, not enthusiasts. This has both helped the market, pushed cars to be restored etc... but it has gone too far and also killed the market.

I don't share the view on prewar cars, many big results, not only in the top lots and not always for the best cars.
Gooding has sold particularly well a collection of Bugattis.
Why? There are tons of events all year round at every price and for everyone, they are fun to drive and offer a boost of adrenaline every time you start them.

Let's hope new, fun & cool events are created in the years to come so as to offer a different view on 50s cars.
Younger people may then look differently at a Jaguar XK120, Ferrari 250 Boano or any 50s race car.

 

Thanks. Looks like it went waaaaaay under their insane estimates.