We’re still sorting through the numbers from the Monterey auctions, putting together coverage for our various titles. While looking over the spreadsheets, I happened to notice that these seven vehicles all had one thing in common: a selling price of exactly $55,000. So, the natural question is: If you had had $55,000 to spend in Monterey, which of these cars would you have brought home with you?
We’ll present these in chronological order. Leading off, above, is a 1909 Ford Model T sold by RM. Ford built about 10,000 Model Ts in 1909, but only a handful had aluminum bodies over wood frames, as this one does. It’s a former AACA First Prize winner, and was restored back in the mid-1960s. (Full disclosure: The blue Model T pictured here earlier was the wrong photo; the aluminum-bodied car is red. My mistake. If any of you want to change your minds based on this, feel free to add another comment!)
Number two is another Ford, a 1932 Hi-Boy roadster also sold by RM. From the description: “286 cu. in. H&H flathead V8, 1939 Ford three-speed manual transmission, live axle suspension with transverse leaf spring suspension front and rear and four-wheel hydraulic drum bakes. Wheelbase: 106″. An all-steel ‘Hi-Boy’ originally built in the 1970s; Full race-built 286-cu. in. H&H flathead V8; Recent high-quality restoration; Drives like a new car – even at freeway speeds.”
Number three is – surprise! – another Ford, a 1936 three-window coupe sold by Mecum. “100% all steel original California car; Stored in a garage in Rowland Heights, CA for 48 years until uncovered in 1996; incredible condition with a brand new grill still in FoMoCo cardboard stuffed in the trunk; 1968 Chevy 350, 400 steel crank (383 CI), TRW pistons, GM 350 HP camshaft, Wieand Team G manifold and Holley 650 carb; Chassis is stock rails boxed and C’d; 8″ Ford rear with 3.00 gears; Super Bell dropped front axle, Posies springs, Pete and Jake shocks and sway bar; Disc brakes in front; Late model Turbo 350 transmission with B&M shift kit; Grey leather by Joel’s Interiors, Riverside, CA. Glide seat, wool carpet; Vintage air conditioning.”
On to number four, a 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 sold by Russo and Steele. The car was subjected to a nut-and-bolt restoration, and the straight-six was given a MK III BJ8 camshaft and larger, 2-inch SU carburetors to raise its output to 150hp. The seller also reported installing larger BJ8 discs with a power booster. An extra set of seats in ultrasuede were included, “for those days where it is too hot for leather.”
Number five is a 1965 Porsche 356 C Coupe sold by Gooding and Company. The color scheme of Heron Gray over blue was original to the car, which has had just three owners. Optional equipment includes chromed wheels and a Blaupunkt radio. The car has been refinished, but never restored, and has its original engine and four-speed transmission, as well as all of its original body panels.
Number six is a 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Saloon, with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner-Park Ward Ltd. This one was owned by J.B. Nethercutt, and had spent all of its life in Southern California. Nethercutt used the car as his daily driver, putting 70,000 miles on it before retiring it to the museum. It was refinished once, though the parchment leather upholstery was original.
Rounding out the field is a 1973 Jaguar E Type V-12 Roadster, sold by Russo and Steele. This car was restored 10 years ago in New Zealand, and has been driven 2,000 miles since.
So, which would it be, and why?