Photos by Teddy Pieper, courtesy RM Auctions.
Saturday was a good day to own a late 1950s Cadillac. No less than three of them sold for more than $200,000 at RM’s no-reserve John Staluppi sale, led by a 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible that hammered for a whopping $299,750.
If a 1956 Cadillac were ever to sell for that amount, one would expect it to be an Eldorado Biarritz or come with some sort of celebrity provenance. Yet according to RM’s description of the Mandan Red convertible, all that set it apart from most other Series 62s were the optional dual-quad 305hp 365-cu.in. V-8, the extensive list of options – Autronic Eye headlight dimmer, power seat, power windows, power brakes, power steering, power top, day/night mirror, power antenna, and AM signal-seeking radio – and the high-quality body-off restoration. Most price guides consistently value such a car at around $100,000, give or take a few thousand, and RM itself set a pre-auction estimate on the car at between $150,000 and $200,000.
The other two Cadillacs that topped $200,000 also beat their pre-auction estimates, but both had the Biarritz name to explain the lofty bidding. An Olympic White 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, well optioned and fitted with the tri-power 335hp 365-cu.in. V-8, sold for $206,250 against a pre-auction estimate of $120,000 to $160,000, while a Pompeian Red 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, fitted with the tri-power 345hp 390-cu.in. V-8, sold for $206,250 against a $100,000 to $150,000 estimate.
About 20 other late 1950s and early 1960s GM and Mopar cars also topped $100,000 at the sale, contributing to a total of $11.5 million for the sale. Rounding out the top 10 list are a 1968 Shelby Mustang G.T. 500KR Convertible, which sold for $264,000; a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Custom Hardtop Coupe, which sold for $198,000; a 1958 Chrysler 300D Convertible, which sold for $198,000; a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Roadster, which sold for $198,000; a 1959 Chrysler 300E Convertible, which sold for $176,000; a 1929 Pierce-Arrow Custom Brougham, which sold for $176,000; and a 1918 Herschell-Spillman 32-foot Carousel, which sold for $460,000.
On the flip side, the bottom 10 sales included a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which sold for $38,500; a 1993 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, which sold for $35,750; a 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 10th Anniversary Coupe, which sold for $34,100; a 1956 Ford Courier Custom Sedan Delivery, which sold for $30,800; a 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe, which sold for $27,500; a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, which sold for $26,400; a 1989 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am Coupe, which sold for $25,850; a 1969 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible Coupe, which sold for $23,100; a 1947 Harley-Davidson WL Motorcycle, which sold for $20,900; and a 1973 Chevrolet Impala Four-Door Sedan Fire Chief’s Car, which sold for $8,800.
Of note, especially considering the recent announcement of the original Batmobile coming up for auction, is the sale of a Batmobile recreation and what could have been the original Batcycle at the Staluppi auction. Combined in one lot, the two sold for $170,500.
For full results from the RM Staluppi sale, visit RMAuctions.com.