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Piece of the Week
Ten Great Classic Cars
Charles Dubow





This is the first time that Christie's has ever held a car auction in France and, if its inaugural sale is anything to judge by, they are off to a great start.

While collecting cars is certainly more labor-intensive and occasionally more frustrating than collecting paintings or furniture (when was the last time you were tempted to take a Monet out for a spin but were afraid to dent the chassis?), it can be just as rewarding and often less expensive. While top lots in the Christie's Paris sale are expected to fetch as much as $1 million--for a 1932 Bugatti Type 51--some of the best cars, particularly classic or prewar editions, can often be had for a fraction of what a Chippendale cabinet or Ming vase would go for.

"This is a particularly nice collection of classic cars," says Miles Morris, head of Christie's international motor car department. "Especially if you are interested in classics from the 1930s--all of which are in stunning condition." In addition to the Type 51, other stars of the auction are early Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces, many of which are from the famous collection of Swiss connoisseur Hans Lüscher.

"What makes this auction especially exciting is that all 19 cars from the Lüscher collection are being offered without reserve," says Morris. This means that unlike many auctions when a lot will not be sold if bidders fail to meet its low-end price, all of the Lüscher cars will be sold to the highest bidder regardless.

Among the highlights of the Lüscher collection are a 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B, a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet B, a 1932 Duesenberg Derham Body J441, a 1931 Stutz SV 16 Derham Roadster and 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton.

To see images of these cars and more, please click on the links below.

Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Forbes Fact

During the 1930s, Rolls-Royce had a manufacturing plant in Springfield, Mass., which produced left-hand-drive cars for the American market and are known as Springfield Rolls.

Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Roadster

Estimate: $31,000 to $40,000

A better year for the E-Type, since power-restricting emissions standards had yet to catch up with the pretty Jag.


Year: 1966
Chassis No.: 1E 12891
Engine No.: 7E 8736-9
European registration documents

Engine: six-cylinder in-line, twin overhead camshafts, 4235cc, 265bhp at 5,400rpm; gearbox: four-speed, transmission to rear wheels; suspension: front: independent, double wishbones with torsion bars; rear: independent with twin coil spring damper units on each side; brakes: servo-assisted disc all around; left-hand drive. White with white factory hardtop and red leather interior.

Intro
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Bentley MKVI

Estimate: $60,000 to $86,000

Believe it or not, this model Bentley was considered a "driver's car", with a close cockpit (for the day) designed around the front-seat passengers.


Year: 1950
Chassis No.: B410 LFV
Engine No.: B205F
European taxes paid

Engine: six-cylinder in-line 4,257cc, overhead valve, 135bhp at 4,000rpm; gearbox: four-speed manual; suspension: independent by coil springs and wishbones with lever-arm hydraulic dampers to front, live axle with half-elliptic springs and adjustable lever-arm hydraulic dampers to rear; brakes: four-wheel drum, hydraulically operated to front, mechanical with servo to rear; left-hand drive. Coachwork by Park Ward, two-door fixe-head coupe, sand over sable, tan leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Packard 740 Custom Eight Roadster

Estimate: $102,000 to $140,000

In inflation-adjusted dollars, the 1930 Packard seems a relative bargain--it would have cost about $3,100 72 years ago--and in 1999 dollars that's only $31K. Not bad!


Year: 1930
Chassis No.: 183667
Engine No.: 183358
European taxes paid

Engine: straight-eight, L-head, water-cooled, 384ci, 109hp; gearbox: four-speed manual; suspension, front and rear: semi-elliptic leaf springs; brakes: four-wheel drum; left-hand drive. Yellow with black wings and brown leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet B

Estimate: $240,000 to $325,000

Who was the spiritual father of the 500K? Why, Ferdinand Porsche, of course, who brought supercharging to Mercedes.


Year: 1936
Chassis No.: 113693
Engine No.: Pending inspection
European taxes paid

Engine: eight-cylinder in-line with supercharger, 4982cc, 160bhp at 3400 rpm; gearbox: four-speed manual, rear-wheel drive; suspension, front: independent with coil springs, rear: independent, swing axle and coil springs; brakes: four-wheel hydraulic drum; left-hand drive. Coachwork by Sindelfingen, four-seater cabriolet, red with beige leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Stutz SV-16

Estimate: $112,000 to $155,000

Stutzes were cool because they sat lower, giving the cars better handling--and because they yielded more horsepower from higher-compression motors.

Year: 1932
Chassis No.: MB-PC-1002
Engine No: 32707 HC
European taxes paid

Engine: eight-cylinder in-line, overhead valves, high compression, 322cu in, 113bhp at 3300rpm; gearbox: three-speed manual; suspension: semi-elliptic springs front and rear; brakes: hydraulic vacuum-assisted four-wheel drum; left-hand drive. Coachwork by Derham, convertible coupe, coral red with dark red leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Cadillac V16 Series 452A

Estimate: $275,000 to $362,000

Even today a V-16 is rare indeed. Cadillac may never return to engines this smooth, but this car was a technological marvel for its day.


Year: 1930
Chassis No.: 702425
Engine No.: 702425
European taxes paid

Engine: V16, 456.6ci., 165bhp at 3,400rpm; gearbox: three-speed manual; suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs with hydraulic dampers front and rear; brakes: four-wheel drum; left-hand drive. Coachwork by Fleetwood, sport phaeton, black over silver with red leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Hispano-Suiza H6B

Estimate: $345,000 to $430,000

Although they looked great, it was the extraordinary engineering--especially under the hood--that sealed the reputation of Hispano Suiza.


Year: 1926
Chassis No.: 11188
Engine No.: Pending inspection
European taxes paid

Engine: six-cylinder in-line, single overhead camshaft, 6,597cc, 135bhp at 3,000rpm; gearbox: three-speed manual; suspension, front and rear: semi-elliptic leaf springs; brakes: internal expanding servo-assisted four-wheel drum; right-hand drive. Coachwork: replica sports torpedo in the style of Kellner, white with red leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Duesenberg Model J

Estimate: $360,000 to $445,000

You could shift a Model J into top gear at a mere 10 mph and the huge straight-eight would pull all the way up to a phenomenal 116 mph.

Year: 1930
Chassis No.: 2335
Engine No.: J441
European taxes paid

Engine: straight-eight, twin overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, 420ci., 265bhp at 4,200rpm; gearbox: three-speed manual; suspension: beam axle to front, live axle to rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs all around; brakes: servo-assisted hydraulically operated drum all around; left-hand drive. Coachwork: replica Derham Tourster, red with tan leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Bugatti Type 51
Maserati

Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix

Estimate: $775,000 to $1,00,000

It is almost certain that this car took first at the 1933 Monaco Grand Prix.


Year: 1932
Chassis No.: 51150
Engine No.: 651
European registration documents

Engine: eight-cylinder in-line, twin overhead camshafts, Bugatti-Roots supercharger, 2,262cc, c.185bhp at 5,500rpm; gearbox: four-speed; suspension, front: Bugatti axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, rear: solid axle on quarter-elliptic leaf springs; brakes: four-wheel drum, cable-operated; right-hand drive. Grey with black leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Maserati

Maserati Boomerang

Estimate: Available Upon Request

Although a one-off show car, this Maserati will surely increase in value especially as it is so obviously a signature design of its day.


Year: 1972
Chassis No.: 081
Engine No.: 902
European registration documents

Engine: mid-mounted V-8, two overhead camshafts per bank, 4719 cc, 310 hp; gearbox: five-speed full-synchromesh, rear-wheel drive; suspension, front and rear: independent, coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers; brakes: four-wheel ventilated disc, power-assisted; left-hand drive. Coachwork by Italdesign, two-tone metallic grey with blue lettering and maroon leather interior.

Intro
Jaguar E-Type
Bentley MKVI
Packard 740
Mercedes 500K
Stutz SV-16
Cadillac V-16
Hispano-Suiza
Duesenberg J
Bugatti Type 51