The Hunt for New (Christmas) Music: This is Number 6 in a series of 10 lists of the very best Christmas/Holiday/Spiritual songs of the season. As with previous lists (and lists to come) occasionally a song with a spiritual/holiday component is added to a list of purely traditional Holiday music. At this time of the year..its the spirit, not the description that means the most.
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18 Songs. 1 Hour
Christmas One More Time, VIII
The Hunt for New (Christmas) Music:
More music from our library of Christmas music playlists. Playing loud is highly recommended. You can hear this playlist via our friends at Spotify, who have kindly made it available online…just click the link below and a web player will appear on your desktop and play the list…..enjoy some new sounds for the Christmas holidays.
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You can listen to the entire playlist through the courtesy of our friends at Spotify. Just click this link: COMT VIII and you will be able to stream the Christmas playlist via Spotify’s excellent web player. Special note: when you click the link, you will be taken to Spotify’s web player. There, you’ll have a couple of choices: sign in if you currently have a Spotify account; signup for a free Spotify account (you’ll be glad you did) or take advantage of their $.99 special for three months of Spotify premium, which has a few extra features the free version doesn’t have –wider selection and no commercials. Either way, you should check it out if you like music. Enjoy…and Happy Holidays. Special thanks to DJ Tschugge for compiling the list, along with the team at the Media Bunker.
NOTES FOR COMT III
Christmas One More Time III: The Story Behind The Songs.
1. I Bought You A Plastic Star (To Go With Your Aluminum Tree), Michael Franks.
Boy, can Michael Franks write songs and lyrics. There is an arch, wry, ironic twist to his music that just has no equal. I first discovered Franks in the late 70s, when I heard his “Sleeping Gypsy” album, one of the finest adaptations of the Brazilian/Bossa Nova musical trend ever. If “Bwana, He No Home” doesn’t get you going, you’ve obviously got a tube connected to your body. Franks does not have the best voice in the business—he’s the king of overdubs—but he is certainly one of the best melody and lyric writers around, filling songs with clever references and hip phrases. And….key to his work….always recording with some of the best jazz artists, ever. Any man smart enough to know his limitations is smart enough to exceed them magnificently, and this is what Michael Franks has done over his career. The song included here, “I Bought You A Plastic Star (To Go With Your Aluminum Tree”) is Franks at his best, nailing the season to the wall with line after ironic line. He gets it and you will too.
2. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. Dean Martin
Oh Dino, how do we miss thee. Dean Martin, one of the original members of Hollywood’s mid-fifties to mid-70s “Rat Pack”( the group included Humphrey Bogart, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, and, of course, Frank Sinatra) had a smooth, easy manner both in his singing and his attitude toward life. He was deceptively good as a singer—a versatile, distinctive voice that could handle any type of music—but all too often this virtuosity was pushed into the scenery by the image of Dino, the party animal, Rat Pack veteran, and booze hound. He was more complicated than that, despite the alcohol-soaked persona he presented on the “Dean Martin Show”, a top-rated one hour variety show that Dean fronted. Dino Crocetti (Dean Martin) was solidly Italian, speaking ONLY Italian until he was five years old. Despite the fame of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin is the only performer who was a star in four forms of media: live performance, film, recordings, and television. Martin was a gifted comic, who teamed with Jerry Lewis to create the famous and all-conquering Martin & Lewis comedy team. Although the team split 10 years to the day after they first started, Lewis said that Dean Martin was “one of the great comic actors of all time”. Martin’s work ethic belied his friendly drunk image—he recorded more than 32 studio albums, 3 live albums, 1 EP and 83 singles and produced 20 compilation albums (Source: Wikipedia) and did more than fifty films. Hardly a lightweight as a recording artist, it was Dean Martin who knocked the hottest group of the century—the Beatles—out of first place on the charts when his “Everybody Loves Somebody” pushed their “Hard Day’s Night” into second position.. His version of “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” is big and lush and powerful, one of the very best renditions of a Christmas classic. Play it as a bit of a memorial to Dino: Dean Martin died on Christmas morning, 1995
3. The Christmas Song (Holiday Mix). Christine Aguilera.
Part of the fun of making up the Christmas playlist is finding the right pacing for the music and putting down familiar songs done by artists you wouldn’t expect. The Christmas Song, done here by Christina Aguilera–most recently of “The Voice”fame– is a holiday staple (but I have yet to put the original version by the man who wrote it, Mel “the Velvet Fog” Torme on a Christmas playlist). Aguilera, who has a four octave vocal range, was destined for stardom, starting out in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as an entrant in talent contests. She was so dominant, her talent so transcendent, that one contestent said that “competing against her was like letting the lion into the sheep pen”. Aguilera takes Torme’s Christmas Song down a path that Mel would never have imagined; her version is fast, ferociously upbeat, and powerful, a wonderful remake of a Christmas classic. It will make you drive faster (if you first hear it in your car) and is totally, completely, a classic of a different type.
4. Driving Home For Christmas. Billy Mathis.
The first time I heard this song I was, literally, driving home for Christmas. It was Christmas, 2004, and snow was falling as I drove up to the lake house for Christmas. The kids were all coming in for Christmas day and, amazingly, it was snowing on Christmas Eve in Texas. I loved this song at first hearing but went for several years before I could track down the artist who did the version that knocked me back. Originally written by singer/songwriter Chris Rhea (perhaps most famous for “Road To Hell”), Mathis does a wonderfully upbeat version of a song that will take it’s place as a classic among the “traveling for Christmas” songs. (“I’ll be home for Christmas” is the current class leader). Enjoy the orchestrated opening with some deft piano phrasing and strings followed by the cut-in of Mathis’s soulful voice. This is a new Christmas classic.
5. Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Rod Stewart & Dolly Parton
This song combines an unexpected duo of musical royalty: Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton. An unlike combination? Yes. A very sharp rendition of a classic Christmas song best done by a female and male singer? Absolutely. Anyone who loves seduction by snowflake or unpredictable weather is going to just go nuts over this one. This song has been done by everyone from Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, and Louis Armstrong. The best points of this version are the counterpoints, the “stay/I must go” segments that make this one Christmas Duet classic. Rod Stewart has modified his game plane as the years have passed (his standards albums are among his best selling albums of all-time) but he remains a massive draw and his unique voice is one of the most distinguished in rock. If you want to hear the “Rooster” in full bloom, get a copy of Faces version of “Street Fighting Man” (Ron Wood, the lead guitarist of Faces has been a member of the Rolling Stones for years now and he absolutely rips the lead guitar up) and you will hear tire-slashing rock&roll at its absolute, let’s- cause -some- trouble, best. For the Holidays, however, something a little gentler is in order: Rod and Delicious Puddin (Dolly Parton).
5. Christmas Must Be Tonight. Daryl Hall & John Oates.
I shamelessly admit that I love the music of Daryl Hall & John Oates. They have been great since their first hit (“Sara Smile”); with 34 songs in the Billboard Top 100, 7 Platinum Records and 6 Gold Records, they can deliver. And they love Ferraris and skiing, two things very close to my heart. Hall and Oates started in Philadelphia (they were in school at Temple) and were a couple of studio rats during the days when the “Philly sound” (i.e. The O.J.s, etc.) was rising to prominence. The duo hit their stride when they settled into and developed their “blue-eyed soul” sound, a musical signature marked by hummable melodies, great leads and choruses, and outstanding play by their touring band, which contained some of the best musicians of their era. There are a lot of Hall & Oates “greatest hits” albums to pick from, but if you want to hear the power of their music at its absolute peak, find a copy of “Hall & Oates, Live At The Appollo Theater”; this is their live masterpiece, as it puts the two white guys from Philly right into the center of soul music’s DNA in an appearance at the famed Apollo Theater in the Harlem section of New York City. For this Christmas One More Time playlist, the selection is a Hall & Oates cover of a Robbie Robertson Tune, “Christmas Must Be Tonight”. Their version is powerful, upbeat, and destined to be a classic. It’s semi-new and bet you’ve never heard it. You will play it often.
6. Please Come Home For Christmas. The Eagles.
What an appropriate selection for a Christmas One More Time playlist. A beautifully rendered version of “Please Come Home for Christmas” by the Eagles. Don Henley’s vocal is plaintive, sincere, powerful; the backing by the Eagles chorus is stupendous. There are several renderings of “Please Come Home For Christmas”, but this one is both extremely spare and timeless. There is pain in this rendition of the song and Joe Walsh’s guitar solo is a classic. Walsh has never received the acclaim due to him for the edge that he put on The Eagles music, but one listen to the finely drawn solo he contributes to this tune will give you some insight into just how great a guitarist Joe Walsh is. Don’t’ forget: Walsh created both the immortal opening bars of “Hotel California” and “Life In the Fast Lane.” This is an American classic, performed by one of the great bands of our era.
7. Last Christmas. Ashley Tisdale.
Six months ago I wouldn’t know Ashley Tisdale if she ran into me with a car. And then I uncovered this cover. For this year’s Christmas CD, Ashley techs up Wham’s classic Christmas song, “Last Christmas”—a song that pushed George Michael into single superstardom stratosphere. One of the funny things about “Last Christmas” is how it always reminds me of Hugh Grant’s movie, “About A Boy”. In the movie, Grant was a British lout who lived off the royalties of one song, a Christmas ditty, written by his father. Tisdale’s version is richly overlaid with counterpoints and “sweetenings” (the producer’s term for sound bits designed to enhance a song). Good stuff. Bet you turn the volume up on this one.
8. Rocking Around The Christmas Tree. Toby Keith.
At one time, Toby Keith was most familiar at Casa Euphoria for being the spokesman for Ford trucks in Texas. Until I found this one. Holy Freaking Cow! Keith takes a song that has been over-played during the holidays for years (the original by Brenda Lee) and sets it straight. This is new country music at it’s best: powerful, direct, thumping! Keith rips this one apart and even Brenda Lee would have to agree that this is a much better version for the 21st Century. The guitars, fiddles, piano solo, and tight rhythm section mixed in with top-flight Nashville production make this one a new classic.
9. Jesus Is Just Alright With Me. The Byrds.
Ooooooooooooh. This is so perfect, so right, so unexpected for a Christmas playlist and then so dead on you wonder why no one ever put the two together. Start with a brilliant band, The Byrds, who skipped through musical genres like they were mud puddles on a small country road. You may remember The Byrds for their covers of Bob Dylan’s songs (he loved them) or for Roger McGuinn’s soaring 12 string guitar solos (“Eight Miles High” remains one of the great rock songs of all time) or their classic album, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”, the record that merged rock and country and created “country rock”, making possible such groups as Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and The Eagles, and individual artists like John David Souther and Jackson Brown. The concept behind the Christmas playlist is simple: you know the season, you know the music, now let’s break down those pre-conceptions and expose you to some music and some juxtapositions that you might not normally put together. “Jesus is Just Alright” is just such a juxtaposition, a time-jumper of Biblical proportions that fits, perfectly, in this season if you think deeply about it. And fits perfectly, even if you don’t.
10. Children Go Where I Send Thee. Daryl Hall & John Oates.
Oh boy, is this one a find. Perfect to the point of pain, it’s a powerful rendition by Hall & Oates of a traditional gospel song. And when you hear it, especially with Hall’s soaring vocals, you wonder to yourself why more Christmas albums and collections don’t pay attention to the tradition and pacing of Gospel Music. This is powerful music, questioning, involving, big, and focused. That it took a couple of “blue eyed soul” musicians to get it so right is a bit of an indictment on what we are allowed to hear on “over the air” radio. But…..we found it. The perfect bookend to Michael Franks and a wonderful ode to the season. Hall & Oates do Gospel. It’s all good!
COMT II: Listen To The Season
The Hunt for New (Christmas)Music:
The second of our traditional rocking -for -the -holidays Christmas Playlists…..Christmas One More Time II. Also, with this list, the practice of adding songs that have a spiritual component–but are not necessarily traditional Christmas songs–begins.
You can enjoy the entire playlist through the courtesy of our friends at Spotify via Spotify’s excellent web player. Special note: when you click the link, you will be taken to Spotify’s web player. There, you’ll have a couple of choices: sign in if you currently have a Spotify account; or signup for a free Spotify account (you’ll be glad you did) Here’s that link Either way, you should check it out if you like music. The holidays are a great time to enjoy a lot of great music. Enjoy…and Happy Holidays. Special thanks to DJ Tschugge for compiling the list, along with the team at the Media Bunker.
PORSCHE PULLS OUT OF GT2 RACING FOR 2013. NEW PROGRAM AIMED AT 2014.
The following very significant announcement came out of Stuttgart, Germany this morning, concerning Porsche Motorsports decision to cease GT2 racing in 2013. The text of the release is reproduced below. Very interesting information–and implications–for sports car racing in the U.S. and the world.
Porsche Motorsport Development Activity to Transition to Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (type 991) Starting in 2013
Stuttgart, Germany/Santa Ana, Calif. – October 26 –With a new race car based on the new, seventh-generation Porsche 911 (type 991) street car on the horizon, Porsche Motorsport has announced it will wind down its development program for the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (type 997) – a very successful venture which began in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2005.
Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport worldwide, in making the announcement, explained that the current 911 race car will reach the end of its product cycle, and, while support will continue for customer teams, further new component development will be discontinued in favor of resources devoted to the all-new car.
“Just like our recent Porsche RS Spyder program, we must appreciate the success of our race cars during their product cycle, but move on to new models when it is time to do so. The venerable Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has provided our Porsche customer teams with numerous wins and championships, and will remain competitive in 2013. Porsche will support the customer teams which continue to race that car, but the time has come and we now must focus our research and engineering development efforts on its successor,” said Mr. Kristen.
“The new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is slated to make its North American debut in 2014,” said Kristen.
In North America, the development partner helping to design, engineer and implement improvements in the current 911 RSR race car has been Flying Lizard Motorsports in the GT class of the ALMS. This partnership now is discontinued.
Jens Walther, president of Porsche Motorsport North America, was quick to point out that customer teams still wishing to run the current 911 race car will be able to continue to do so in the American Le Mans Series with full at-the-track engineering and parts support. PMNA shop service from Porsche will also continue in 2013.
“We will be at the track with our usual support for 2013, and some of our current customer teams have already committed to run the 911 GT3 RSR (type 997) next year. Each of the current teams will be announcing their plans as we get closer to the ALMS Winter Test in February,” he said.
Walther also pointed out that the Flying Lizards have been a terrific development partner since they took on the role with Porsche Motorsport in 2007.
“Team owner Seth Neiman and his entire Flying Lizard Motorsports organization have helped both Porsche Motorsport and all our customer teams around the world by being our development partner in the U.S. Together we have won multiple championships in the ALMS. The team has assisted in testing everything from new engines and transmissions to the latest aero package we introduced earlier this year – all to improve the car for everyone. In the midst of all that, they won three straight ALMS GT championships in the most competitive class in sports car racing. We thank Seth and his team for that service, and hope their racing plans going forward continue to include Porsche,” Walther said.
“It’s impressive how the 911 GT3 RSR has developed from year to year. The lap times alone are astounding, because despite the restrictions imposed on us again and again by the regulations, the car just got faster every year,” says Porsche works driver Joerg Bergmeister, who has celebrated the majority of his successes at the wheel of the 911 GT3 RSR.
Christmas One More Time, Vol V
Christmas One More Time The Fifth in a Series of Great Holiday Music Playlists.. Happy Holidays (Beef Wellington Mix) Bing Crosby Run Rudolph Run Sheryl Crow I Believe in Father Christmas Cortex Cure Driving Home For Christmas Billy Mathis Angels Running Cher White Christmas The Drifters Jesus Is Just Alright The Byrds Mistletoe Cobie Caillat Sleigh Ride Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops A “DC” Christmas Melody Destiny’s Child Last Christmas (Single Version) Ashley Tisdale Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Toby Keith Sunshine Christmas Billy Paul Williams Winter Wonderland James Taylor w/Chris Botti Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow Dean Martin Merry Christmas Baby Sheryl Crow & Eric Clapton Blue Christmas Willie Nelson What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?(Jackpot Mix) Black Widow feat. Patti Labelle & The Blue Belles
The Paddle Economy: 2012 Prices Realized
Last year, in this very same space, we presented an overview of some of the most interesting cars to be offered at the annual Pebble Beach auctions conducted by all the major automobile auction houses during the week long celebration of automobiles and automobilia that rans parallel to the justifiably famous Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. To get you in the mood for this years auction action, below please find the results (or, more precisely, the “prices realized”) for the cars we selected to feature in 2012. You can see where the sales price projected was underestimated or over estimated. It’s good backup reading for those of you heading west this year. We’ll do another survey of some of the more interesting cars to go on the block in the coming week, but for now, here’s how last year’s picks turned out.
Gooding & Company
2003 Ferrari Enzo
Est. $1.2 to $1.5 Million
The Supercar from Ferrari. Necessary for the Ferrari Supercar Flush: 288GTO, F40, F50, Enzo and soon-to-be F70.
Result: $1,430,000
Nice price for the Enzo. Over the last decade, all Ferrari supercars (288GTO, F40,F50, and Enzo) rise in price before the announcement of the new Ferrari super car (La Ferrari). This one was no exception.
1955 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta
Est. $1.5 to $2.0 Million
Iconic, rare, influential, and magnificently restored, this early Maserati model has design implications than stretch from the 20th to the 21st Century. You can see the influence of the A6G in the latest Maserati GT and it’s all good.
Result: $1,650,000
I was expecting this Maserati to go a little higher. Maserati has yet to hit the tailwind that Aston Martin did about five years ago, with a subsequent lift in all prices. One reason may be that while Maserati has returned to the marketplace, it did not return in its’ previous brand position. It’ll take time, but the classic Maseratis will go rise in value.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Est. $900,000 to $1,200,000
Every collector must own this model at least once. Even better—this particular Gullwing is presented in a wonderful color combination, seldom seen. And yes, nothing today makes the impact of swinging up the justifiably famous Gullwing doors and elegantly (it takes practice) exiting the car.
Result: $638,000
I was wrong about the color combination…Gullwing buyers want their cars in Silver.
1959 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage
Est. $3,500,000 to $4,500,000
Beautiful enough to make you sweat and in the perfect color—black—for a car so often seen only in blue and white. Imagines of Masten Gregory cranking it through the Nurburgring in the 1000KM come to mind.
Result: $3,520,000
A good result but I had projected the Birdcage at the higher end of the sales estimate, not the lower, primarily because of its rarity and very iconic status. Still…a lovely car, well bought.
1964 Ford GT40 Prototype
$5,000,000 to $7,000,000
Oh my. With a drivers list that includes Ginther, Hill, McLaren, Bondurant, Miles, Schlesser, Attword and quiet, fast, Chris Amon (and more) this is a very special car. Any doubt about who gets bragging rights at track day when you show up with this piece of rolling history?
Result: $4,950,000
It was only a matter of time before the Ford GT40s started to bring serious money. Is this money as serious as one might get if a 330P3 were to make it to market? Nope. But still excellent. It’s great to see the race cars starting to receive serious collecting attention and money. And what to expect when a Ford GT40 MkIV comes to Auction?
1972 Lamborghini Miura P400SV
Est. $1,200,000-$1,500,000
The Miura to own has always been the SV version. Blessed with perhaps the greatest of all Bertone body designs, the Miura P400SV is the Lamborghini model that built the company’s reputation and made them a supercar contender.
Result: $1,375,000
The Miura is its own legend and prices are rising, accordingly. Easily one of the most beautiful GT designs of all time.
RM Auctions
All RM Auctions offerings are in their online catalog .
1963 Porsche 356B 1600 S Cabriolet
Est. $125,000-$165,000
Who among us has not lusted after the 356 Cabs? A very tasty offering from RM, with requisite matching numbers, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, and the original radio. All correct and absolutely perfect for crisp Saturday morning mountain road driving.
Result: $151,250
Everyone wants a 356B Cab. Prices are only going to go up. The car also has cross-generational appeal.
1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupe
Est. $250,000-$325,000
A necessary car for touring the upper coast of California and being seen in all the right spots in Beverly Hills. Fast? No. Stylish? Yes. Cool? Very.
Result: $220,000
Well done. For less than the cost of a new Bentley Continental GTC convertible, you can arrive in a ride that says “old,old money”…A bit of a bargain really.
1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra
Est. $1,500,000 to $1,800,000
The 427 Cobra was a beast and the Competition 427s were the best of the beasts. Not subtle but then nothing about the Cobras ever was, although Pete Brock’s classic Cobra Daytona Coupe was certainly more special than we realized at the time. It will be interesting to see how Cobra prices move after the death of Carroll Shelby earlier this year. Shelby chased Enzo Ferrari on the racetrack; can he keep up in the auction market?
Result: $1,415,000
The big question surrounding Carroll Shelby and his cars was this: why didn’t Shelby do more after his amazing mid-sixties run with the Cobra and the Ford GT40s? The Cobra drifted back in the pack, the name plate was attached to an endless series of questionable “performance models” from big American manufacturers, and he basically failed to build a continuing, manufacturing and racing enterprise. In the end, Cobra was a blip on the sportscar scene. His old opponent, Ferrari: now considered the most powerful brand in the world, has a lineup of four production models and has won more F1 races than any other manufacturer. The Shelby Cobra pricing is rising now but the empire that he did not create from the position he had will always haunt the brand.
1960 Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet
Est. $600,000 -$700,000
A few years ago, these beautiful Ferrari Cabriolets were selling for considerably less. But—the market has realized that this is a desirable Ferrari to own ( and drive) and so prices have started to climb rather steadily. It would look great in your driveway, even better on the move.
Result: $715,000
Ferrari cabs are just going to continue to climb.
1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
Est. $300,000 – $375,000
One of the hottest collectibles today, Dino 246s are beloved for their perfect blend of aesthetics, power, and handling. The “Chairs & Flares” options just add to the appeal. Should Ferrari consider making a 21st Century Dino? Based on the market appeal of the 246s, the answer is a resounding yes.
Result: $467,500
Is the Dino 246GTS the hottest collector car in the world? Probably. Expect prices to continue to rise. So where is the modern version?
19389 Horch 853A Special Roadster
Est. $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
Normally, I prefer cars from the modern era but this one is special: it won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in August of 2004 and there is a wonderful picture of the car in the catalog crossing the show platform. Beautiful in lots of different ways and with an absolutely exquisite interior.
Result: $5,170,000
I thought this one, with its’ amazing pedigree, would go higher than it did perhaps the fact that it had already won at Pebble Beach took the steam out of a very high dollar sale. Still–an amazing car.
2001 Audi R8 Le Mans Prototype Racing Car
Est. $1,000,000-$1,500,000
If there’s a bargain among these million dollar offerings, for me, it would be this Audi R8. This is absolutely one of the greatest prototype racecars ever built and it is devastatingly fast and reliable enough to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans 5 times. Sleek, surprisingly easy to work on, and one of the few in private hands–hopefully yours next.
Result: $1,034,000
A great race car, well bought, hopefully by an enthusiast with a team of techs who can put it on the track for him multiple times a year. My favorite car in the sale, probably because I have seen it run so many times.
1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight Racing Car
Price Available on Request (i.e. expensive).
Another terrific GT40, this one in the justifiably famous Gulf livery, driven by David Hobbs, Brian Redman, Mike Hailwood, and Jacky Ickx among others, it was also used as a camera car for the Steve McQueen movie classic “Le Mans” and that should be good enough for the “Price Available On Request” notation. This will be a seminal year for GT40 sales in terms of value realized.
Result: $11,000,000
A racing Ford that sold at racing Ferrari prices. Just knew that this one would go big and it did. As predicted, this was the penultimate price for a GT40.
1972 Ferrari 365GTC/4
Est. $140,000 -$165,000
A very lovely, very drivable, 365GTC/4—a Ferrari model just now coming into its own in the auction marketplace. The catalog states that the car has only 700 miles on it since a $150,000 restoration so the new owner would be buying the car for approximately the amount the previous owner put into restoring it. Sounds like a deal to me.
Result: $181,000
The 365GTC/4 is a beautiful car that still hasn’t found big dollar auction money. As prices climb ever higher on other Ferrari models, it would be reasonable to expect the prices on these models to increase as well. We’ll see in just a couple of weeks.
1955 Aston Martin DB3S Sports Racing Car
Est. $3,500,000 to $4,000,000
A beautiful race car finished in the “racing orange” colors of its Dutch owners. Astons have recorded increasingly high sales at auction over the last five years and this one can be viewed as something of a litmus test for Aston collectability. It certainly makes a lot of simultaneous statements.
Result: $3,685,000
On the money. Decent (and in some cases, indecent) Astons are bringing high prices and the trend will continue in 2013. This car was beautifully restored.
1987 Porsche 962 IMSA Camel GT Racing Car
Est. $1,200,000-$1,600,000
The 962 Porsches are wonderful looking cars and with 700HP and a beautifully engineered suspension, they roared around the world’s race racks in the mid to late 1980s, scaring competitors and drivers alike and winning Le Mans three times (1986, 1987, and 1994). One of the great road racing warhorses, now available for your collection.
Result: $875,000
Low, I believe, for the model and history. Still, racing Porsches will see a very sharp price rise in the next couple of years.
2001 Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans Prototype Racing Car
Est. $1,900,000- $2,500,000
Did I mention that I have a soft spot for collectible race cars? Here’s one of the rarest, a Bentley Speed 8. OK, we know that underneath the Bentley badging it was substantially Audi influenced but that is a plus, not a minus, as Audi’s top class prototype program has been dominate in the modern endurance racing era. Dallara built it, using a carbon fiber tub into which was tucked Audi’s 3.6 Liter supercharged 8 cylinder engine. The result: Bentley’s first podium appearance in 71 years. Yeah, you need a transporter and some great techs to run it but that’s part of the appeal.
Results; $2,530,000
Rare, rare, rare and with a solid pedigree.
1956 Ferrari 250GT LWB Berlinetta Tour De France
Est. Available on Request
There are a lot of great cars up for offer at the Monterey Auctions, and sometimes it seems that Ferraris are dominating the lot lists and the auction results. So be it–there’s a deep seated reason for our fascination with Ferraris and it has much to do with the way Ferrari combines mechanical and technical excellence with the emotional impact of body design, sound, and feel. Ferrari–alone among the great manufacturers–has produced an amazing variety of superb vehicles and so when one line of vehicles appears to peak in terms of market values (i.e. Daytonas) another rises up (Dino 246s). This particular offering, a 250GT LWB TDF is one of their greats–body design by Scaglietti, who clothed so many of the great Ferrari race cars, a single overhead camshaft V12 delivering 240HP, and four wheel disc brakes. One of only 9 made. You’d look great in it.
Result: $6,710,000
Ferrari has produced a lot of different models in its history and the models that collectors really love are the ones that did double duty: on the road and on the track. This one was special and the price realized said so emphatically.
Bonhams & Butterfields
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20322/
A Heuer “Monte Carlo” Lap Timer, Circa 1967
Est. $1500-$2500
If you, like me, have wanted one of these beauties since you first discovered fast cars, back roads and Road & Track , here’s your chance. It can hold up to 11 hours of Lap Times. Perfect for your six hour endur0s and the right anti-dote to “everything digital, all the time”.
Result: Went looking for the sale result for this piece of classic motorabilia but couldn’t find it. Will talk with Bonham’s and get the backstory.
A 1:14 scale model of a Ferrari 250LM by Enrica
Est. $800-$1000
This is probably as close to ownership of a 250LM as most of us will ever get. Very nice model of a seminal Ferrari Sports Racing car. The size is terrific as I personally like the larger scales (1:18, 1:14) better than the smaller (1:43) ones. This one is about 15 inches long, so it will make a statement on your shelf, just like it did on the race track.
Result: The same applies to this model. Update coming.
1972/75 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Spyder
$1,900,000 -$2,400,000
An important car, campaigned by Luigi Chinetti’s N.A.R.T. team, the predecessors to Risi Competizione as the top American based Ferrari racing team. Chinetti’s private Ferrari based teams swaggered through the racetracks and paddocks of Europe and the U.S., always with suspiciously up-to-date Ferrari offerings and under age drivers (the Rodriquez Brothers from Mexico). Like Risi’s teams, Chinetti was feared for the sheer speed of the cars and the skill and ferocious competitiveness of the drivers. This very unique car is loaded with history and needs an owner who will exercise it frequently.
Result: This was lot No. 463 and no sale result is listed, which means it probably didn’t make reserve. Follow up in process.
1960 Jaguar XK150 3.8 Liter Drophead Coupe
Est. $80,000-$90,000
The most refined of the XK series models and correct in black with red interior (BRG is so predictable). The lines are smooth and the 3.8 Liter in-line six cylinder engine has more than enough power to hustle you along the curving roads in Northern California fast enough to keep you totally absorbed.
Result: Lot 491 was an exquisite XK150, which sold for $79,350, quite a bargain for someone with the right climate and garage.
1997 McLaren F1 GTR “Longtail” FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe
No Estimate Provided
This particular car—the final example produced—has the GTC Motorsports Gulf Team Davidoff livery and is powered by a 6.1 Liter BMW V12. The McLaren GTRs have been very desirable as collectibles and this one will not break that string. Those in motorsports are waiting to see if the McLaren MP4-12C will continue the victory string that the F1 GTRs delivered but so far results have been mixed. Best option: go retro and pick up a competition F1
Result: No sales price listed. Again, follow up in process.
Up next: our annual Calendar for the week at Pebble Beach.
Christmas One More Time: Vol. VII.
- Come On, Christmas …………………………. Matthew West
- Good King Wenceslas (Patrick) …………… CSSR State Philharmonic Orchestra
- Jingle Bells …………………………………….. Katherine McPhee
- Snowflake ………………………………………. Joe Sample
- Merry Christmas, Baby ………………………. Christine Aguilera
- Santa Claus is Coming (Boogie Woogie)…… The Tractors
- Winter Wonderland ………………………….. Louis Armstrong
- Holiday Road ………………………………….. Lindsey Buckingham
- What I Want For Christmas ………………… Lemon
- Baby, It’s Cold Outside ……………………….. James Taylor
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town ……………. Dave Brubeck & Gerry Mulligan
- Shake Up Christmas ………………………….. Train
- All Alone On Christmas ……………………… Darlene Love
- Let It Snow ……………………………………… Joe Williams
- Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays ………… *NSYNC
- Joy To The World ……………………………. (Mocean Worker Remix) Cathedral Brass
- All That I Want ………………………………… The Weepies
- This Christmas(Father of the Fatherless) ….. Toby Mac& Nirva Ready
- God Trying To Get Your Attention …………… Keb’ Mo