9 Cars That Caught Our Eye at Bonhams’ 2024 Quail Lodge Auction

Bonhams’ Quail Lodge auction finished this year with numbers that are notably down from the recent past. Total sales were less than a fourth of what they were in 2022, and less than half of what they were in 2023. A significant portion of the 2024 consignments were from a muscle car collection that appeared to have been sitting for a while, and this is reflected in the average and median sale prices that are both lower than they have been in the 2020s so far. In the past, the Quail Lodge auction has often been anchored by a star consignment that is among the most expensive in all of Monterey Car Week. For example, in 2014 there was a Ferrari 250 GTO ($38.115M, then a world record), in 2017 there was a McLaren F1 ($15.62M), and last year there was a Ferrari 412P ($30.255M). This year, however, there was no such star car, and the most expensive lot was a 2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione at “just” $1.611M.

As always, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. This auction always brings an eclectic mix of interesting cars for all tastes and budgets. In that regard, this year was no different, and we examine the most interesting vehicles in detail below.

Lot 136: 1953 Porsche 356 1500 Super Coupe by Reutter

Sold for $246,400

Chassis no. 50194; Engine no. P40194. Palm Green over beige leather and cloth. Unrestored original, #4- condition.

Equipment: 1498cc/70hp flat-4, 4-speed, red wheels with hub caps, Telefunken radio.

Condition: Recently pulled out of a warehouse in Munich and in total barn-find condition, but complete and an enticing project. The paint is original Palm Green. Front bumperettes are rusty. Side mirror is missing. Engine looks to have been cleaned up recently. Underbody looks scruffy but solid. Interior looks rough. There’s a hole in the dash, the upholstery is cracking, and the steering wheel rim is cracked. There can’t be many solid Pre-A 356 barn finds out there, so this is an exciting one.

Bottom line: The bidders certainly thought so. Restored 356s of this vintage have sold for similar money. Barn find mystique and barn find premiums definitely still happen.

Lot 108: 1983 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL AMG

Sold for $145,600

Chassis no. WDB10704612003569. Anthracite Grey Metallic over Creme Beige leather. Unrestored original, #3+ condition.

Equipment: 4973cc/276hp V-8, close-ratio AMG 5-speed manual, 5-spoke AMG wheels, Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires, body kit, power Recaro seats, Becker Grand Prix radio, AMG speedo.

Condition: Represented as one of five original manual cars in the U.S. and imported here when new. Showing 120,120 km (74,639 miles). Scratched front bumper and window frames. There are a few blemishes on the wheels but they’re in good shape. Tidy engine and underbody. Faded plastic rear spoiler. Other than faded seat belt buckles, the interior looks great.

Bottom line: R107 SLs aren’t particularly “exciting” cars, but with all the AMG upgrades, including a close-ratio manual, this one looks like an absolute riot. And it’s rare, too. Given the big interest in early AMG cars lately, this price for it makes sense. Broad Arrow sold a standard but delivery-mile 560 SL the same week for a record $260,400, but I’d rather have this one every day of the week even if they were the same price, let alone the AMG for over $100K cheaper.

Lot 200: 1970 Dodge Challenger Hemi R/T Hardtop

Sold for $329,500

Chassis no. JS23R08349300. Hemi Orange with black side stripes and black vinyl roof over black vinyl. Older restoration, #4+ condition.

Equipment: 426 Hemi V-8, 4-speed with pistol grip shifter, Super Track Pak with 4.10 axle, power steering and brakes, shaker hood scoop, Go Wing, rear window slats, Rallye wheels with Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, AM/FM radio, Rallye gauge pack, includes broadcast sheet, from the Golden State Muscle Car Collection.

Condition: Represented as one of just 237 1970 Hemi Challengers and about a dozen with both 4-speed and shaker hood. The paint is extremely dull and damaged, there are large chips on the hood and the tops of the fenders have paint worn down to the primer. The bumpers are dull and pitted, and the vinyl roof is old and faded but not cracked. The engine compartment is aged but not neglected. The radiator support appears replaced and the radiator is slightly tweaked as if there is prior accident damage. The underside is aged and a bit dusty. The interior is aged but not abused or neglected, just old. An aged, older restoration of a highly optioned and desirable bit of Mopar muscle.

Bottom line: This is a shabby car condition-wise, but it ticks so many boxes and was definitely the king of the small muscle car collection that made up a large portion of the Bonhams consignments this year. This price is also surprisingly strong given that the car has needs and its condition can’t be excused by originality. The words “Hemi”, “4-speed”, and “R/T” pulled a lot of weight here.

Lot 203: 1974 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi Hardtop

Sold for $196,000

Chassis no. RM23R1R114725. Black with white C-pillar stripes over black vinyl. Older restoration, #3 condition.

Equipment: 426 Hemi V-8, 4-speed with pistol grip shifter, air grabber scoop, power steering and brakes, Rallye wheels with BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, bucket seats, AM/FM radio, from the Golden State muscle car collection.

Condition: The paint is very dull and swirled. There are noticeable chips on the back edge of both B-pillars. The bumpers are shiny. The engine compartment is detailed and presents very well. The underbody is restored and shows little deterioration. The interior is aged and shows some wear. A moderately scruffy example of a final year Hemi Road Runner.

Bottom line: The 1971 model year was the last for the Hemi. It was also the first of a full redesign of the Belvedere/Satellite/Road Runner series, employing the handsome fuselage theme with loop-shaped front bumper and high trunk. Hemis naturally sit at the top of the heap, and 4-speeds command a decent premium. This one sold about right for its equipment and condition.

Lot 102: 1967 Lotus Elan S3 Coupe

Sold for $17,920

Chassis no. 366180. Red over black vinyl. Visually maintained, largely original, #3- condition.

Equipment: 1588cc/125hp inline-4, dual Webers, updated with SE-spec valves and cams, 4-speed, centerlock wheels, Kumho tires, leather-wrapped steering wheel, right-hand drive.

Condition: With the same owner for 40 years. Reportedly updated with a replacement backbone chassis by Spydercars, a popular upgrade. That was hard to verify on the ground, but the chassis does indeed look newer. The top of the car does not, with faded and cracked (common on an Elan) paint. Wheels and tires look old, and the wheel wells are dirty. Engine is surprisingly clean. Dashboard is severely cracked, gauges are fading, and the upholstery on the rear deck is loose. There is also a note on the dash that the tach reads high and the temp gauge reads low. This is a scruffy Elan with the steering wheel on the wrong side, but a Spyder chassis is a big plus, and this car could be enjoyed while cosmetically restoring it and making the numerous little fixes it needs.

Bottom line: The first car lot of the day at Bonhams, this little Elan sold for a price that’s about right for the condition. With an expensive chassis upgrade already done and a tidy-looking engine, hopefully the remaining big needs are all cosmetic and this Elan will be a rewarding car for the new owner.

Lot 103: 1970 Alfa Romeo 1300 Junior Zagato

Sold for $39,200

Chassis no. AR1800256. Red over black vinyl and cloth. Visually maintained, largely original, #3 condition.

Equipment: 1290cc/103hp inline-4, Weber carb, 5-speed, Feegat centerlock alloy wheels, Yokohama tires, red leather-wrapped Personal steering wheel, Jaeger gauges.

Condition: One of 1100 built. Paint is a little tired. Clean wheels. A few scratches in the glass. Faded dash but mostly good interior. Tidy but unrestored underneath. A pretty solid and relatively rare little oddball Alfa, showing 12,742 believable km.

Bottom line: A bit odd but attractive in that classic Zagato way, these special-bodied 1300 Juniors are desirable to Alfa folks, and Bonhams’ $50,000–$60,000 estimate is where the market has been for them. It went for well under that here, though, as cars were for the most part selling under estimate across the price spectrum in Monterey this year.

Lot 138: 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Specification Coupe

Sold for $277,200

Chassis no. DB4646R; Engine no. 370654. Caribbean Pearl over dark blue leather. Cosmetic restoration, #3+ condition.

Equipment: 3670cc/266hp inline-6, 4-speed with overdrive, wire wheels, Avon Turbospeed tires, wood-rim steering wheel, push-button radio, right-hand drive.

Condition: Sold new to an Asian businessman headquartered in Amsterdam. Later returned to the factory and upgraded to triple-carb Vantage specs. Cosmetically restored in the 2000s. Sound chrome, but the paint shows sizable chips on the nose, hood, and one on the roof. There is also a large blister on the left front fender and a few more small ones on the driver’s door. The lobes on the wheels all show serious hammer marks. Lightly wrinkled leather and cracked steering wheel cap but mostly good interior. A well-equipped and usable DB4, but little better than driver condition.

Bottom line: This DB4’s desirable specs and right-hand drive had much better luck selling on the other side of the pond when, at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed sale last year, it sold for £264,500 (about $347K). Vintage Aston prices are soft in general lately, but this is a big dropoff from its previous result and way under estimate.

Lot 142: 1957 Fiat-Abarth 750 GT Zagato

Sold for $78,400

Chassis no. 100430930; Engine no. 100000693328. Red and white over brown. Older restoration, #3+ condition.

Equipment: 767cc/48hp inline-4, single Weber, 4-speed, four-wheel disc brakes, centerlock wheels, Marchal fog lights, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges.

Condition: U.S. car from new. Restored in the 2000s. Replacement Mille Miglia-spec engine. Shown at the Quail in 2015. Older paint, aged wheels, scratched rear glass and faded marker lenses, but everything is presentable. Excellent interior. Tidy and lightly used underneath. In clean, event-car condition.

Bottom line: These pocket rockets fit so much character into a tiny package, and they’re eligible to do the modern running of the Mille Miglia. Yet this one somehow flew under the radar on the auction block. Considering the charm, the rarity, the Zagato cachet and all the things you could do with it, it’s a great value at this price.

Lot 165: 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible

Chassis no. 5F08D143605. Rangoon Red with white side stripes and white top over red and white vinyl. Older restoration, #3+ condition.

Equipment: 289cid/210hp V-8, automatic, narrow whitewalls, vinyl boot cover, pony interior, Kenwood cassette.

Condition: Reportedly bought by Tom Petty 20 years ago. Aged but presentable paint and chrome. Very clean wheels. Light discoloration on the boot cover and driver’s seat but mostly good interior. Clean underneath. Tom Petty is obviously a famous name, but not as a car guy, and he owned/used this car for an unspecified period long after his heyday.

Bottom line: It’s unclear if any of the bidders was an American Girl, but two of them Wouldn’t Back Down until there was no more Room at the Top, and by the time it was Mary Jane’s Last Dance and the hammer fell, the winning offer was $200K ($224K with fees). The price is beyond what a Refugee could afford. Petty mostly Handled it with Care, but this Mustang wasn’t perfect and the model’s #1 value is $66,700. Celebrity ownership doesn’t always guarantee a car will be more valuable, but sometimes star power can send people’s rationality Freefallin’. This car, a humble ’65 Mustang, brought some of the most exciting bidding action all week.