Cheap Maserati Birdcage

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/60s-70s-MASERATI-BIRDCAGE-STYLE-BODY-VW-CHASSIS-/330463929666?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4cf12f6542#ht_500wt_1182

For your pleasure a cheap way to get a Maserati birdcage.

I think this is an Ambro body about 40 bodies were built. These Birdcage bodes were made in the US and used on a lot of sports racers back int he 60's. Some of the body panels were molded from Don Skogmo's T-61.One was a Bristol powered special and a DKW H mod were built. Very few have survived. I actually thought of buying this car but have way too many projects.

If it was some Italian special folks would be shelling out $30,000 to $40,000 for something like this. See it at Pebble Beach in a few years.

http://www.fineartvalue.com/

What Current Production Car Will Be Collectible in 30 years

We have had a raging discution here in the garage as to what car will be collectible 30 years from now. Cars today have some expensive computer controlled components that will be much harder to duplicate than lets say a set of points for a Dusenberg. Some canidates for collectible status in 30 years will be American muscle - the Camaro SS, Trans Am WS6, and current Shelby line of Mustangs (higher up the rung obviously the better). The current Charger and Challenger SRT8s should hold some interest, depending on how they have been treated.

In Ferrari world the CS, Scuds, FXX, and other Ferraris/Lambos should do well as well as the new Alfa 8C. I would imagine that the Carrera GT, SLR, SLS, and Bugattis are going to hold their own, but dont think they are going to join the ranks of the 250 GTO or 250 Testa Rossa. The 360s and 430s are just going to be too common unfortunately while I can see a day where a solid 308/328 could trade for more than either of them. (I admit my own bias in that statement)

The extremely low production cars (Panoz, Koenigsegg, Noble, etc...) could really go either way. I see this due to limited support over years if the companies manage to survive Gov regulations and to the limited supplies of even parts cars. One indicator of high maintence costs keeping cars out of the restoration cycle is the Porsche 928. This has kept prices of these GT cars low for years and almost 30 years on no one is spending big bucks to restore one. In 1983 it was the fastest car sold in the USA.

Recent Monterey Auctions- Got to Move the Metal

Some high prices paid for quality cars but mid line offerings were down acrossed the board.

$3.25M was the final bid on the McLaren F1, plus the 10% commission on top for a total of $3.575M. Not the highest price ever paid for an F1 road car, but a very strong result. Certainly a bit higher than I was expecting given all the other cars that had lower than expected numbers. This car is like the Ferrari GTO of 1963 a Lamans winner but also streetable, maybe the last of the breed.

The 250 SWB was hammered at $5.55M and then the 10% commission and an additional 2.5% in Import Duties if it is staying in the USA. Besides being 1 of 20, the description says that the restoration was completed by the factory and that it is Classiche Certified. Again a really great car and it got top money.

As you can see in the following numbers lots of stuff under estimate. Look for more metal to be sold as owners start to liquidate their collections due to health issues. This has been seen with price declines in the middle of the market for the last 3 years

O'Quinn cars from Saturday:

Lot 331 - 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual Windshield Sport Phaeton - $310,000
(est $225,000-$300,000)

Lot 333 - 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca deVille - $190,000
(est $150,000-$200,000)

Lot 336 - 1933 Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton Sedan - $185,000
(est $250,000-$300,000)

Lot 341 - 1933 Duesenberg SJ Riviera Phaeton - $1,300,000
(est $1,100,000-$1,400,000)

Lot 354 - 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Henley Roadster - $500,000
(est $500,000-$750,000)

Lot 356 - 1930 Stutz Model M Supercharged Coupe - $600,000
(est $500,000-$700,000)

Lot 358 - 1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Open Tourer - $800,000 No Sale
(est $1,000,000-$1,500,000)

Lot 359 - 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C Lago Speciale Teardrop Coupe - $4,200,000
(est $3,500,000-$4,500,000)

Lot 364 - 1911 Mercedes 38/70 HP Seven-Passenger Touring - $450,000
(est $500,000-$600,000)

Lot 368 - 1928 Hispano-Suiza H6C Convertible Sedan - ?
(est $350,000-$450,000)

Lot 369 - 1937 Studebaker "Extremeliner" Woodie Custom - $125,000
(est $175,000-$250,000)

Lot 371 - 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet - $830,000
(est $1,100,000-$1,300,000)

Lot 372 - 1933 Pierce-Arrow Twelve Convertible Sedan - $275,000
(est $300,000-$400,000)

Photo is of an Alfa Romeo TZ2 from the 100 years of Alfa Romeo meet.