2285293 RHD CSL - Sold Auction 02 June
I went to both the auction last night and a pre-view on Monday. Update for those interested and anyone who trips over the car if for sale again in the near future.
Hammer price (ie, before commissions) was £10,200 UKP or approx $14,900 USD - one bidder, not me! Went with a friend who was considering but on reflection after the pre-view decided to view only.
The car looked respectable and "honest", probably original paint with a few areas touched up and some small dents but no obvious serious external rust until examined more closely. Engine number not verified but claimed as original - no obvious reason to dispute. All alloy panels present. Interior was generally good except for carpets (very faded) and dash finger rail. Front seats had centres reupholstered but too tight so gaps to the side bolsters. Floor panels and under rear seats good (a few light surface rust patches on the floor) up to drivers footwell - daylight! Road dirt entering rear at rear axle beam end mount so where else was it going and at what penalty? Webasto sunroof tight and working, no obvious leaks. Period vinyl roof tight and no tears. Car had been standing in a private "collection" since mid 1980s and not run - no MOT. "Commissioned" for sale - battery charge/replaced (not new), oil?, and it was fired up on request; sounded OK! But, water not circulating - radiator looked hammered but pump quiet! Brake cylinders "overhauled" but servos likely to be shot. Bumpers re-chromed and looked almost new!
Fibreglass patching - on boot/trunk behind both wheel arches extending all the way down the valance on one side, in one of front arches; no stop plates in front arches exposing front of cill openings, daylight through one of the front inner/outer wing/fender joints. Knock the cill panels and rust flakes dropped out through the drain gaps - from inside the car the cill faces looked "passable".
So, superficially an OK project car that would need some work to turn into a runner? Probably - certainly required work to pass an MOT. Difficulty was determining how bad - the cills were possibly shot, but not certain, and the A-posts likely suspect, inner/outer wing/fender joints need attention with possibly/probably much more in that area. Had the front wings/fenders been replaced? They looked almost too good externally but there were no tell tales to suggest replacement although the "tiger" stripes on one side were not original so something had been done there!
A lot of interest shown before sale but bidders hands in pockets suggested most were wary to commit - once torn down how big would the hole be? As a base tub with an almost complete good interior, a good base at a price only a buyer can decide as acceptable or not.
Probably only half the cars sold - some would have been bargains and some were as mainly sold close to the bottom of the guide price range - a very nice part restored, but complete and running, Ferrari 308 GT4 went for £12,000 UKP. Hmm. At the other end of the scale a Blower Bentley for £600,000 UKP; so some could afford but most were being careful.
