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Roaring into the winner’s circle and taking top lot honors was a 1973 Pontiac Trans AM LS2
455 cu. in. Super Duty car, packing a 430 hp V8 engine with 800 CFM Holley carburetor. Its provenance as the Toronto Auto Show feature car, combined with its pristine, unrestored condition, low production and nearly every option available, made it the ultimate muscle car.
Owners of these cars make no bones about their pride in owning the swan song of Detroit's most outrageous era, and bidders eagerly met and exceeded the $175,000-$225,000 pre-sale estimate. When the dust settled finally after spirited bidding, a dedicated collector drove the prize home for $341,000. It was the last, and arguably the pinnacle, of the muscle car era.
All prices quoted in this report are in Canadian dollars and include the buyer’s premium. Cars that sold for more than $250,000 had a 10 percent buyer’s premium. Cars $250,000 and below had a 12 percent buyer’s premium. All other lots had an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
Three other automobiles also topped six figures in the 286-lot auction that grossed a little more than $1.5 million. The first was a 1966 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2-liter fixed head coupe, a classic British sporting car. The car was a solid and rust-free example before benefiting from a comprehensive ground-up restoration in its original livery of British Racing Green with tan leather. It came into the sale with a $100,000 high estimate but ended up bringing $128,800.
The second was a 1970 Chevrolet Corvette LS5 roadster, one of the last of the great pavement pounders of the muscle car era. The 1970 Corvette marked the third year of the C3 generation, introduced as an upgrade to the 427 cubic inch engine to the mighty LS5 454 cubic inch V8. The LS5 was rated at 390 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. Of the 17,316 ‘Vettes made in 1970, 10,688 were coupes. This one was bid to $112,000 against a high estimate of $100,000.
The third was a 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351, a full-strength American street monster but one that proved to be a final offering for true muscle car fans from the blue oval team. Yes, the 351 big block engine was a hit and an upgrade over the 302 and 429 Boss Mustangs, and the body was redesigned. But the looming gas crisis of ’73 spelled the end of the road for the muscle car era. This relic from the past sold for $100,800. The high estimate was $80,000.
“The unilateral respect that comes with the Fairbairn name translated into feverish buyer confidence at the auction block,” said Ethan Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “Collector cars soared past high estimates in part because they were from the collection of a founding partner and specialist of what became the world’s largest car auction company -- RM-Sothebys.”
The Fairbairn collection was more than muscle cars. In addition to those described, the auction also featured historic objects, petroliana, soda advertising, advertising signs, general store items, motorcycles, automobilia and coin-ops. A total of 1,800 in-house and online bidders combined to place 7,981 bids. 98 percent of the 286 lots were sold and 44 percent of the top 50 lots exceeded estimate. Online bidding was through LiveAuctioneers.com and MillerandMillerAuctions.com.
A 1920s Canada Vulcanizer double visible Red Indian gasoline pump, 122 inches tall by 39 inches wide, brought $70,800, nearly doubling the $40,000 high estimate. It had a show-quality restoration to automotive paint standards as completed by Bob Krist, outfitted with correct white rubber hoses, brass nozzles with gilt-painted fittings and two reproduction double-sided Red Indian gas globes. It was embossed, “Property of Supertest Petroleum Corp., London, Ontario.”
A Canadian 1930s McColl-Frontenac Red Indian Motor Oils single-sided porcelain dealer sign, 5 feet in diameter, considered a ‘must-have’ in Canadian petroliana advertising, more than doubled its $12,000 high estimate by changing hands for $25,960. McColl-Frontenac played a significant role in early Canadian petroleum history and was well-known for its distinctive “Red Indian” branding. This example was graded well, at 8.5 out of 10, with excellent color and gloss.
A rare circa 1905-1910 self-framed single-sided tin sign advertising US Ammunition, made by the United States Cartridge Company, with an image showing a company representative extolling the virtues of his company's products to American and foreign military officers who were attending the Bisley matches in England, made $8,260, besting the $5,000 high estimate. The image was illustrated by American artist Charles Chase Emerson (American, 1874-1922).
Vehicles of the two-wheel variety were led by a 1983 Honda CX650 motorcycle, produced during the pinnacle of Honda’s turbo era. The CX650 Turbo was the successor to the CX500 Turbo and had a larger 674cc engine and improved fuel injection. Honda made the CX650 Turbo for only one year, producing just 1,777 units for the North American market, making it one of the rarest production motorcycles in Honda’s history. This one sped away for $14,160.
To watch a brief YouTube video showing the auction’s highlights, please click this link:
https://youtu.be/S6MOLlknSsw
Looking ahead, Miller & Miller Auctions will hold an online-only Pre-1980 Sports Cards & Memorabilia auction on Sunday, June 22nd. Watch the website for further details.
Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. is Canada’s trusted seller of high-value collections and is always accepting quality consignments. The firm specializes in watches and jewelry, art, antiques and high-value collectibles. Its mission is to provide collectors with a trusted place to buy and sell.
To consign a single piece, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (519) 573-3710; or, you can e-mail them at [email protected]. To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the firm’s calendar of events please visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com.
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Ethan Miller
Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.
+ + +1 519-573-3710
email us here
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