Valuation: American Specials: Auction Results

Valuation:  American  Specials
Auction  Results


Here at Undiscovered Classics we keep a keen eye on auctions as they relate to postwar handcrafted specials, and the news in the past few years has been increasingly positive.  

What’s impressive is the consistently high bids and price achieved for each car.  This trend has continued over recent years and across different sports car marques and categories of handcrafted cars.  This is good news for those of you who have these types of cars in their collection as well as those who are looking for potential investments in future purchases and/or restorations.

Let’s take a look at the results on some of these cars starting with the current year and earlier.


2023  Auctions

1956  Devin  MG TD  Roadster – Sold at $47,000
Bring a Trailer (BaT):  August 7, 2023

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Click  Here  To  Learn  More  About  Devin  Sports  Cars


1951  Glasspar  G2  Roadster – Sold at $85,800  (#3 Condition)
Mecum  Auctions:  April 13-15, 2023

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Click  Here  to  Learn  More  About  Glasspar  Sports  Car  History

Hagerty  Report  on  This  Glasspar:  April  13,  2023

Silodrome  Report  on  This  Glasspar:  April  3rd,  2023


1961  LaDawri / Victress C2 Coupe Porsche 356- Sold at $74,500 USD – including fees
Collecting Cars Auction (UK):  April 7, 2023

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Additional  Detail  Here  Via  Silodrome


1954  Woodill  Wildfire – Sold at $25,500
Bring a Trailer (BaT):  March 2, 2023

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Click  Here  To  Learn  More  About  Woodill  Wildfire  Sports  Cars


2022  Auctions

1953  Glasspar  G2  Roadster – Sold at 67,200  (excluding fees)
Broad  Arrow  Auctions  (West Palm Beach, Florida):  November  19, 2022

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Click  Here  to  Learn  More  About  Glasspar  Sports  Car  History


1959 Byers SR-100 – Sold at $71,000
Bring a Trailer (BaT):  July 19, 2022

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Click  Here  to  Learn  More  About  Byers  Sports  Car  History

Click  Here  To  Learn  More  About  This  Car

Additional  Detail  Here  Via  Silodrome


1959 Devin C – Sold at $78,400 Excluding Fees
RM Sotheby’s – Arizona:  January 27, 2022

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Additional  Detail  Here  Via  Silodrome


2021  Auctions

1952 MG “Cisitalia” Special by Allied – Sold at $55,000 Excluding Fees
RM Sotheby’s:  October 8, 2021

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


1963 Devin C – Sold at $61,500 Excluding Fees
Bring A Trailer:  September 15, 2021

Values continue to increased for Devin sports cars at auctions across the country.  The latest example is this beautifully restored Devin C which sold for $61,500 excluding fees on September 15, 2021 via Bring a Trailer (BaT).

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction

Bring a Trailer has been a great site for selling Devin sports cars, and over the years it has picked up pace – and price realized.   Since 2014, 14 Devins have been presented on the Bring a Trailer site – 13 of these sold.  Prices have ranged from under $10,000 to the highest one achieved so far which is $61,500.  What makes this more impressive is that 11 of the 14 Devins on BaT have sold on their website in less than 3 years. Check out the link below to see all 14 Devin Sports Cars that have appeared on BaT:

Click here to View All Devin Sports Car Sales on Bring A Trailer


1954 Byers-Kurtis 500KK – Sold at $89,600 Including Fees
Bonhams:  Scottsdale, Arizona January 21, 2021

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


2019  Auctions

1953 Glasspar G2 – Sold at $109,200 Including Fees
RM Sotheby’s: Amelia Island

This is the most recent auction and a very impressive result.  This Glasspar G2 was put up with an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000 but performed above the highest expectations.  The car sold for $109,200 which was inclusive of the buyer’s fee.

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


1951 Studebaker Manta Ray Custom – Bid to $190,000
Mecum: Monterey

This is another recent auction and a good result too – although this car didn’t sell.  This car is a bit different than the sports cars we generally follow, but the Manta Ray is an excellent example of a show car built by two talented individuals with a specific vision in mind.  Given that this may be the earliest fiberglass show car in existance doesn’t hurt either.

The Manta Ray was put up with an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000 but was bid to $190,000.  Not a bad price but not high enough for the car to sell and go off to a new owner.

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


2018  Auctions

1962 La Dawri Conquest – Sold at $57,200 Including Fees
Mecum: Denver, Colorado

Here at Mecum an excellent LaDawri Conquest sports car was auctioned off at $57,200 inclusive of buyer’s fees.  The fit and finish of this car was excellent and the wheel treatment certainly gave it a bit more of a “restomod” look.  This car was not period correct but it was restored and updated with great attention to detail and the final finish was right on target.

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


2015  Auctions

1955 Allied Coupe (100” wheelbase) – Sold at $220,000 Including Fees
RM Sotheby’s: The Andrews Collection, Ft. Worth, Texas

Another impressive result was seen with this Allied coupe which sold for $220,000 inclusive of the buyer’s fees.  Although incorrectly identified as an “Allied Swallow” in the auction, it was actually an “Allied Blackhawk” which has a 100” wheelbase (the Swallow is MG size with a 94” wheelbase).  One factor that helped increase the sale price of this car was the Kurtis Kraft chassis.  Kurtis is considered the finest in-period chassis that a sports car could have from this era.

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


1953 Victress S1A Roadster – Bid to $150,000
Mecum: Chicago, Illinois

This beautifully built Victress S1A roadster was built to impress on the road.  It was bid to $150,000 at this 2015 Mecum Auction in Chicago, Illinois but did not meet reserve.  It later changed hands at a during a private transaction.

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


2012  Auctions

1953 Woodill Wildfire – Sold For $66,000
Worldwild Auctioneers: Auburn, Indiana

This Wildfire was featured in 2011 on the Discovery TV Show “Fast & Loud” where it was found and restored on camera.  It is an excellent example with beautifully restored Dayton wire wheels and two-tone paint.  It was considered “well-bought” at $66,000 and now resides in a private collection.

Click here to learn more about this car and the auction


Where  To  Go  From  Here

If you need help selling your car, need an appraisal, management of the restoration of your American Special or more – we’re here to help.  American Specials are our “Specialty.”

Click  Here  To  Learn  More  About  The  Services  We  Offer  at  Undiscovered  Classics

Geoffrey Hacker
Undiscovered Classics
E-mail: Undiscovered.Classics@Gmail.com
Phone: (813) 888-8882