Tractors, toy cars, and motorcycles stun at Scottsdale 2018
While cars get the lion’s share of attention at Scottsdale, they’re not alone on the auction block. Yes, there are plenty of other odds and ends to peruse; an entire museum, if not a functional auto parts store, could be stocked with the clocks, signs, and NOS equipment that was all over the various Scottsdale auction houses. However, there almost always needs to be an engine involved to hold our attention. Here are two-, three-, and even some four-wheeled non-car contraptions that sold at Scottsdale and filled that weird niche in someone’s collection.
1957 Lamborghini DL30
Sold for $40,700 at Bonhams
Lamborghini was in the tractor business for more than a decade before it built its first car, and the company continues to offer several versions today (albeit not in North America). You’d be hard-pressed to find such a nicely restored version of one of their sports cars for such a paltry sum. And as the colorful auctioneer pointed out during the sale, it was a rare chance to own the slowest Lamborghini ever produced.
1960 Porsche Diesel Junior 108 L
Sold for $44,800 at RM Sotheby’s
A slow seller in North America, the Junior tractor was the smallest of Porsche’s all-diesel tractor line and was popular across Europe. Its 833cc, single-cylinder engine is, as historic Porsches should be, air-cooled.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Children’s Car
Sold for $25,200 at RM Sotheby’s
Every kid at some point or another dreams of being a race car driver, and none is more worthy of imitation than Stirling Moss. This 1:5 scale model of Moss’ Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR that competed in the 1955 Mille Miglia can bring a child that much closer to the real deal. Built on a proper steel chassis with a composite plastic body, 12-inch steel wheels, and a luscious leather interior, it tops out at 15 mph courtesy of its 43cc engine. Pricier children’s toy cars sold at RM’s auction (both a Shelby 427 and a Jaguar XK120 went for $40,800), but this made-for-kids racing legend is the coolest.
1974 Harley-Davidson Golf Cart
Sold for $4400 at Barrett-Jackson
Continuing in the theme of “I didn’t know they built those” is a three-wheeled Harley that’s not your typical sidecar or even a Servi-Car. Production of H-D golf carts continued into the brand’s ownership in the ‘70s by American Machine Foundry, a company previously (and currently) known for its bowling alleys. Bonus trivia: Harley-Davidson also built snowmobiles for a short time.
1965 Harley-Davidson M50
Sold for $8800 at Barrett-Jackson
Continuing down the Harley-Davidson rabbit hole, we found this M50, which is somehow even less Harley-Davidson than a golf cart. The miniscule 50cc motorcycle was a product of the Aermacchi/Harley-Davidson partnership that began in 1960 and ended when AMF sold its interest to Cagiva in 1978. The M50 was only produced for two years, making it a rare collectible.
1957 Cushman Eagle
Sold for $12,650 at Barrett-Jackson
This two-speed thumper has been mechanically restored and features custom paint and a boatload of chrome accessories, turning it into a full-dress mini bagger perfectly suited to lead a parade while being piloted by an equally-tasseled, fez-wearing Grand Poobah—local helmet laws allowing. Its matching trailer, complete with diamond plate floor and toolbox, sold for an additional $1100.
