RE: Undervalued Italians: Under the hammer

RE: Undervalued Italians: Under the hammer

Thursday 27th August 2015

Undervalued Italians: Under the hammer

It's not just the German classics appreciating at the moment...



With prices of so many German performance cars going ballistic at the moment, Italian stallions are looking somewhat forgotten - and potentially a source of real bargains at auction, if estimates at the Historics at Brooklands auction on 29 August are anything to go by.

An Iso that isn't a Grifo? They do exist!
An Iso that isn't a Grifo? They do exist!
Semi-exotic bargains
It baffles me why the Alfa Romeo SZ hasn't seen stronger rises in value, but it's definitely starting to creep upwards. That makes the estimate of £18,000 - £20,000 for a seemingly sound 1990 example seem exceptionally low. I'm sure it'll go way higher than this but, with a low reserve, you never know - this could be a big bargain for someone.

For a slice of 1970s coupe cool, very little beats an Iso Lele. The Historics example is a genuine UK-registered 1975 Lele, one of only 50 right-hand drive cars (of a total of 280 Leles). At a £45K estimate, few 1970s Italian exotics are such good value, or so rare.

However, the Iso Fidia "restoration project" is surely only for the terminally brave, even with its 'no reserve' status. Is it just me, or is there not something utterly fabulous about this gigantic Giugiaro-penned four-door saloon? And you need to check out its Mr Benn-style psychedelic cabin.

Of course, you could be sensible and buy a Maserati Quattroporte MkI. This is not just any QP1, either: it's a rare RHD car originally bought by Prince Karim Aga Khan in 1967, and has done only 28,000 miles. These early QPs are superb to drive, and this seems like it might be a real steal at just under £50,000.

Also up at similar money is a restored Ferrari 308 GTS 1978. Sadly it's LHD (originally from Canada) but its low estimate does make it look tempting.

Pretty car
Pretty car
Italy's cheapies
Surely it's time that Alfa 916 GTV V6s started to appreciate in value. This 1998 3.0 with 41K miles is the nicer Phase Two car with the six-speed 'box and 220hp. OK, it was originally supplied to Cyprus, but the gorgeous cabin speaks volumes for how well it's been treated. Estimate: £4,000-£6,000.

I can't remember the last time I saw a non-Integrale Lancia Delta on the road, but this 1987 Delta GT with just 18,860 miles looks absolutely peachy - it even has its original plastic door trim covers on. And there's no reserve.

And from Britain & Germany...
There are plenty of interesting non-Italian lots going under the hammer. I've never seen a Hooper-bodied two-door Bentley Turbo R before. Fascinating car, and difficult to value, but £26,000-£30,000 is the estimate.

Hang on, something isn't quite right here
Hang on, something isn't quite right here
And how about a Rover 75 V8 (the 4.6-litre Mustang engined one)? This is an insanely rare car (probably fewer than 100 V8s were Rover-badged) and a sure-fire future classic. This looks a very good one, with just 23K on the clock, which justifies its estimate of £8K-£11K.

And finally, what car offers 603hp and 737lb ft of torque for just £10,000? A 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG, that's what. Apparently only 777 CL 65s were produced worldwide, of which fewer than 40 came to the UK. We all know that CLs are mega money-pits but the AMG 65 might actually justify it - especially at a lower estimate of £10K.







Author
Discussion

urquattroGus

Original Poster:

1,845 posts

189 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
SZ's have been tipped to rise In value for years now it seems.

I got serious about buying one about two years ago, 18-22K seemed to get a nice one, in the end I stuck to Plan A and bough a nice 1966 Giulia Sprint.

The parts availability and general Marmite looks scared me off a little, but part of me still wants one!

rohrl

8,711 posts

144 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all


That interior is just mental. In a good way.

P4ROT

1,219 posts

192 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Saw this and thought it was a stunning example:

http://www.rmsothebys.com/lf15/london/lots/1966-bi...

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
I think that CL65 would be an excellent buy as a long term investment.

0llie

3,006 posts

195 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
That CL seems too cheap @ £10k, they're ordinarily £25k+

What a car though, best looking modern Mercedes IMO

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Tuvra said:
I think that CL65 would be an excellent buy as a long term investment.
We're at what pretty-much EVERYONE things is the peak of a classic car bubble and you say that why?

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

162 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
405dogvan said:
We're at what pretty-much EVERYONE things is the peak of a classic car bubble and you say that why?
Especially given that much of it was driven by the Chinese economy, which now appears to be falling to bits.

dpop

205 posts

131 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Saw an SZ yesterday for the first time while driving and felt like a 3 year old on his birthday - ended up slowing down, hooting, and giving many thumbs up to the owner. Amazing looking car, especially when surrounded by repmobiles in everyday traffic! £18-20k seems a bargain...

405dogvan

5,326 posts

264 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
dpop said:
Saw an SZ yesterday for the first time while driving and felt like a 3 year old on his birthday - ended up slowing down, hooting, and giving many thumbs up to the owner. Amazing looking car, especially when surrounded by repmobiles in everyday traffic! £18-20k seems a bargain...
In fairness, they've been that price for a while and they're not getting any younger ;0

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
405dogvan said:
Tuvra said:
I think that CL65 would be an excellent buy as a long term investment.
We're at what pretty-much EVERYONE things is the peak of a classic car bubble and you say that why?
I think it will be looked upon as one of the last of a dying breed, I also think it is a handsome car which will look more favourable than the C216, that and it is a pillarless Mercedes Coupe with a Twin Turbo V12 bounce

I think the C215 in general will be a future classic as it will age well, the CL65, through rarity alone will be worth a small fortune in 10-20 years, all IMO of course smile

Animala

777 posts

161 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
P4ROT said:
Saw this and thought it was a stunning example:

http://www.rmsothebys.com/lf15/london/lots/1966-bi...
Holy Christ......I've never even heard of that car before (or manufacturer for that matter) but it's now firmly in my top 10 cars to buy when I win the Euromillions.

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Animala said:
P4ROT said:
Saw this and thought it was a stunning example:

http://www.rmsothebys.com/lf15/london/lots/1966-bi...
Holy Christ......I've never even heard of that car before (or manufacturer for that matter) but it's now firmly in my top 10 cars to buy when I win the Euromillions.
I thought it was an Alfa Romeo TZ2 when I clicked on the link cloud9

hufggfg

654 posts

192 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
That SZ has had an engine swap, that's the reason it seems so cheap.

A "decent" is going to be more like £35k.

Mikeeb

405 posts

117 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
0llie said:
That CL seems too cheap @ £10k, they're ordinarily £25k+

What a car though, best looking modern Mercedes IMO
Would love to swap my 55 for this, though how it ever puts its power down without a LSD is beyond me. The 55 struggles with 'only' 700Nm against the 1000Nm of the 65.

r11co

6,244 posts

229 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
No biggie that the GTV was supplied to its original owner via Cyprus. I don't know the full ins-and-outs of the reason why independent vehicle importers were using that route at the time.

My GT got to its first owner via Gibraltar.

Bonefish Blues

26,437 posts

222 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
r11co said:
No biggie that the GTV was supplied to its original owner via Cyprus. I don't know the full ins-and-outs of the reason why independent vehicle importers were using that route at the time.

My GT got to its first owner via Gibraltar.
Now you mention it, I remember that used to happen yes

GTEYE

2,092 posts

209 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Bonefish Blues said:
r11co said:
No biggie that the GTV was supplied to its original owner via Cyprus. I don't know the full ins-and-outs of the reason why independent vehicle importers were using that route at the time.

My GT got to its first owner via Gibraltar.
Now you mention it, I remember that used to happen yes
That was the height of the parallel Euro import phase when exchange rates made it attractive to do so.

Manufacturers were not keen on supplying RHD cars to Euro dealers to then export to the UK, but Cyprus was conveniently a RHD market in Europe...

Dale487

1,334 posts

122 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
The ISO Fidia's interior falls under "interesting" - sculptured velor A-pillar, mmmmmmmm

I'm not feeling the bonnet vents or the "drug dealer" tints on the Bentley - but otherwise it looks like a nice car.

The Rover is a great sleeper (& may be the first Rover I've ever wanted) - grandad spec inside & out with great big V8 up front!

MikeGalos

261 posts

283 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
The ISO Fidia (AKA ISO Rivolta Fidia AKA ISO Rivolta S4) really is stunning when it's in nice shape. This example? It'd take some bravery and somebody with access to a good metalworking shop and a mechanic who knows US V8s.

Pickled

2,051 posts

142 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
r11co said:
No biggie that the GTV was supplied to its original owner via Cyprus. I don't know the full ins-and-outs of the reason why independent vehicle importers were using that route at the time.

My GT got to its first owner via Gibraltar.
Could have been bought by someone serving in the forces, iirc there used to be some tax advantages for them.