How do you measure the success of an auction? If the atmosphere is a criterion, then the auction at the Oldtimer Galerie in Toffen on December 1, 2012 can certainly be considered a success. However, a sales rate of 75% (albeit 30% with reservations) is no mean feat and the prices were quite high, especially by Swiss standards.
With almost 1 million francs worth of cars sold, the bid price reached 94% of the estimated average value, which meant an average of CHF 23,950 or 25,565 euros per car sold. The highest bids (including the vehicles sold under reserve or not sold) settled on average at 78% of the average estimated price or 84% of the lower estimate price limit. Reinhard Schmidlin and his team were able to draw a positive balance.
Large audience, great interest
The auction room in the halls of the Oldtimer Galerie in Toffen was once again full to bursting. All the chairs were taken, around 700 people waited spellbound for the auction to start and around 200 registered bidders had their "trowels" ready.
A wide range - something for everyone
The range of 87 cars (including children's cars), as well as motorcycles and collector's items, was wide-ranging and included pre- and post-war vehicles, sports cars and limousines, and cars from almost all major manufacturing nations (England, Italy, Germany, USA, France). Collectors of rare Italians, fans of British roadsters and limousines, lovers of super sports cars and fans of the cultivated French way of transportation all had a reason to make the pilgrimage to Toffen and raid their savings accounts.
Good atmosphere in the hall
The atmosphere was buoyant and the first sales lots quickly found a buyer, some even at surprisingly high prices, such as the Alfa Romeo 33 from 1984, for which the hammer price almost tripled the average estimate.
Swiss Federal Council limousine goes to Germany
A 1966 Jaguar S 3.4 Litre caused a heated bidding war, with the hammer only falling at CHF 13,500, well above the estimated price of CHF 9,000 to 12,000.
The auction of the 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special, a limousine that was once used by the Swiss Federal Councillors for their trips, also generated excitement. Would the stately, black-painted car stay in Switzerland? In the end, a bidder from Germany came out on top, although his highest bid was well below the estimated price.
Children's Mondial more sought-after than the original
The bids for the Agostini Auto Junior Ferrari Mondial children's car, which was knocked down for CHF 4,250, caused a smile, while the bids for the original in the form of a Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet from 1986 dried up at CHF 25,000 and the car was returned unsold.
Record price for Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
The catalog description of lot 35, a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, was comparatively sober: "First registration 1.1.1960, hardtop, 67,900 km, 2 owners, Swiss delivery. Service booklet, operating instructions and spare parts book. New soft top, new tires, fresh from service. 3 seats registered. Very good original condition. Exceptional bargain, certainly unique in Switzerland. Swiss vehicle papers with veteran entry." The estimated price of CHF 50,000 to 60,000 seemed moderate, especially as the car was offered without a minimum price.
But there were obviously very serious bidders on the phone and in the auction room. The auctioneer started at 40,000, but 100,000 was reached after just a few minutes and the highest bidder was only crowned at 120,000. A record auction price for a 190 SL, of which almost 26,000 were built.
Cold feet
High bids were applauded enthusiastically, perhaps also to warm up a little. Because the longer the auction lasted, and the last lots were not called until well after 5 p.m. - i.e. after more than three hours - the colder the visitors' feet became, in the truest sense of the word. However, this did not detract from the bidding atmosphere, with haggling and bidding going on until the very end and never a long dry spell.
And there were always highlights. The maximum bid for the VW Beetle from 1950, a sought-after pretzel window version, reached CHF 34,000, a lot of money for a car that once cost less than CHF 5,000.
Favorable opportunities
Again and again, the highest bidders got their dream car at a bargain price. For example, anyone who can buy an Austin Healey 3000 Mk II BJ7, which cost over CHF 140,000 to restore, for CHF 66,000 (plus buyer's premium) cannot complain. The new owner of the Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadsterfrom 1974, who only had to bid CHF 50,000, can also be happy about a favorable opportunity, even if the auctioneer noted that the car makes a noise when driving, which could lead to follow-up costs of around CHF 3,000.
And at CHF 48,000, one of the rare Alfa Romeo RZ Zagato Cabriolets from 1993 was knocked down cheaply by international standards. And an aluminum replica of the Jaguar D-Type from Proteus with Swiss road registration is rarely offered, and the CHF 77,500 offered for it also seems low. The Mercedes-Benz 220 SE "Heckflosse" sold for CHF 16,000, the Lancia Appia Series 3 for CHF 6,500 and the Bitter SC 4.0-24V for CHF 18,000 were also bargains.
The Renault-Alpine A310 Group 4 from 1983, which was knocked down for CHF 19,000 with original 19,000 km, also appears to be very favorable. If this deal still goes through, the buyer can consider himself lucky.
Citroën collection with mixed sales results
The auction of the five Citroën collector's cars had been eagerly awaited: two 2CVs, a 11 Traction Avant, a DS Pallas saloon and the exceptionally rare DS 21 factory cabriolet, which had been restored regardless of the cost. At CHF 220,000, this achieved the highest hammer price of the day, but could only be knocked down subject to reserve. The early Deux-Chevaux from 1958 also fell well short of expectations, while the DS 21 saloon from 1971 sold for exactly the lower estimate of CHF 35,000.
Fans of open-top Jaguar cars who stayed at home?
Two open-top Jaguar XKs were vying for new owners, but both fell far short of the already moderate estimates and were sold conditionally in one case and not at all in the other. The attractive Jaguar XJ-S V12 Cabriolet from 1989 fared even worse, with no bidder willing to pay more than CHF 15,000, a fraction of its actual value - unsold.
Unsold specialties
A quarter of the vehicles on offer did not find favor with the bidding public, including the 1976 Lincoln Continental Town Car, a Daimler V8 250 Saloon, an MG TC (highest bid CHF 24,000), a red Ford Thunderbird with hardtop (highest bid CHF 38,000), a Fiat 500 C Topolino, a Ferrari 308 GTSi, a Bentley Azure Mulliner, a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Veloce and a Maserati Indy.
At auctions, it takes at least two or three fans for every vehicle on offer, but this was obviously not the case for the lots that did not sell, which does not necessarily say anything about the quality of the unsold cars, as there were some very attractive sports cars and saloons in this group too. And it is surprising that even the rare anniversary model Porsche 911 Targa Jubilée from 1988 did not attract more interest.
Results (as of December 1, 2012, 17:30)
The following table represents the results of the auction at the time of closing. The prices are to be understood before surcharges/taxes. The hammer prices were converted at the daily exchange rate of EUR 1 = CHF 1.2053. Lots sold "under reserve" will be renegotiated over the following days and then either sold or withdrawn. All information without guarantee.
| Lot | Brand/Type | Year | Estimated price CHF |
Estimated price € |
Bid CHF | Bid € | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Daimler XJ40 3.6 | 1988 | 4500-6500 | 3750-5400 | 4000 | 3319 | sold |
| 02 | Alfa Romeo Alfa 33 1.5 SL | 1984 | 1000-2000 | 850-1700 | 2800 | 2323 | sold |
| 03 | MG B Roadster | 1972 | 8000-10000 | 6500-8500 | 10000 | 8297 | sold |
| 04 | Ford Taunus 17M 1700 S Turnier | 1967 | 10000-12000 | 8500-10000 | 8000 | 6638 | sold |
| 05 | Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 | 1988 | 7500-8500 | 6250-7100 | 6000 | 4978 | sold subject to reservation |
| 06 | Lincoln Continental Town Car | 1976 | 10000-12000 | 8500-10000 | 7000 | 5808 | not sold |
| 07 | Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet | 1974 | 12000-14000 | 10000-11500 | 9750 | 8090 | sold |
| 08 | Fiat 850 Sport Coupé | 1971 | 14000-16000 | 11500-13500 | 12000 | 9957 | sold |
| 09 | Porsche 944 Turbo | 1986 | 12000-15000 | 10000-12500 | 7000 | 5808 | sold subject to reservation |
| 10 | Alfa Romeo 75 1.8 Turbo | 1986 | 10000-12000 | 8500-10000 | 8000 | 6638 | sold subject to reservation |
| 11 | BMW 3.0 CS | 1971 | 18000-24000 | 15000-20000 | 18000 | 14935 | sold |
| 12 | Mini 1.3i 40th Anniversary | 1999 | 22000-26000 | 18500-21500 | 19000 | 15765 | sold subject to reservation |
| 13 | Jeep CJ-7 | 1983 | 12000-16000 | 10000-13500 | 9000 | 7468 | sold |
| 14 | Mercedes 600 SEC | 1993 | 10000-15000 | 8500-12500 | 10000 | 8297 | sold |
| 21 | Jaguar S 3.4-Litre | 1966 | 9000-12000 | 7500-10000 | 13500 | 11201 | sold |
| 22 | Fiat 124 Sport Spider 1600 BS1 | 1971 | 10000-12000 | 8500-10000 | 9000 | 7468 | sold |
| 23 | Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Convertible | 1986 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 25000 | 20743 | not sold |
| 24 | Agostini Auto Junior Ferrari Mondial | 4500-5500 | 3750-4600 | 4250 | 3526 | sold | |
| 25 | Fiat 500 A Topolino | 1947 | 8000-10000 | 6500-8500 | 8500 | 7053 | sold |
| 26 | VW Beetle 1500 | 1967 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 14000 | 11616 | not sold |
| 27 | Lincoln Continental Convertible | 1964 | 18000-22000 | 15000-18500 | 24250 | 20121 | sold |
| 27A | Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special | 1970 | 20000-30000 | 16500-25000 | 11500 | 9542 | sold |
| 28 | Daimler V8 250 Saloon | 1968 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 21000 | 17424 | not sold |
| 29 | Mercedes 220 SE "Tail fin" | 1963 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 16000 | 13276 | sold |
| 30 | MG TC | 1949 | 34000-38000 | 28500-31500 | 24000 | 19914 | not sold |
| 31 | Ford Mustang 289 Convertible | 1965 | 42000-46000 | 35000-38500 | 38000 | 31530 | sold subject to reservation |
| 32 | Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT | 1971 | 65000-75000 | 54000-62500 | 57500 | 47710 | sold under reserve |
| 33 | Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II | 1961 | 65000-75000 | 54000-62500 | 55000 | 45636 | sold subject to reservation |
| 34 | Ford Thunderbird | 1956 | 55000-65000 | 46000-54000 | 38000 | 31530 | not sold |
| 35 | Mercedes 190 SL | 1957 | 50000-60000 | 41500-50000 | 120000 | 99569 | sold |
| 35A | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-24 | 1992 | 18000-22000 | 15000-18500 | 15500 | 12861 | sold |
| 36 | Bentley Mulsanne Turbo | 1984 | 25000-30000 | 21000-25000 | 15000 | 12446 | not sold |
| 37 | Fiat 500 C Topolino | 1954 | 15000-20000 | 12500-16500 | no bid | not sold | |
| 38 | Daimler Double Six | 1990 | 18000-22000 | 15000-18500 | 12000 | 9957 | not sold |
| 39 | Ferrari 308 GTSi | 1981 | 42000-48000 | 35000-40000 | 28000 | 23233 | not sold |
| 40 | Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible | 1989 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 19000 | 15765 | not sold |
| 40A | Jaguar XJ 12 Sovereign | 1989 | 10000-15000 | 8500-10500 | 9000 | 7468 | sold |
| 41 | Citroën 11 B | 1956 | 22000-26000 | 18500-21500 | 16000 | 13276 | sold |
| 42 | Citroën 2 CV AZL | 1958 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 17000 | 14106 | sold subject to reservation |
| 43 | Citroën 2 CV 4 AZ | 1970 | 20000-24000 | 16500-20000 | 14000 | 11616 | sold subject to reservation |
| 44 | Citroën DS 21 Pallas | 1971 | 35000-38000 | 29000-31500 | 35000 | 29041 | sold |
| 45 | Citroën DS 21 Cabriolet Usine | 1967 | 240000-280000 | 200000-233000 | 220000 | 182542 | sold under reserve |
| 46 | Bentley Azure Mulliner | 2002 | 155000-165000 | 129000-137500 | 100000 | 82974 | not sold |
| 46A | Porsche 911 Targa Jubilée | 1988 | on request | on request | 45000 | 37338 | not sold |
| 47 | Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Veloce | 1965 | 62000-70000 | 51500-58500 | no bid | not sold | |
| 48 | Ford Mustang 289 GT | 1965 | 35000-40000 | 29000-33500 | 27000 | 22403 | sold under reserve |
| 49 | Fiat 2300 S Coupé | 1969 | 28000-32000 | 23500-26500 | 22000 | 18254 | sold under reserve |
| 50 | VW Bus T2 | 1972 | 28000-32000 | 23500-26500 | 25000 | 20743 | sold under reserve |
| 51 | Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow | 1976 | 28000-32000 | 23500-26500 | no bid | not sold | |
| 52 | Lancia Appia Series 3 | 1961 | 10000-12000 | 8500-10000 | 6500 | 5393 | sold |
| 53 | Sunbeam Alpine Series IV | 1965 | 8000-10000 | 6500-8500 | 8000 | 6638 | sold |
| 54 | Chevrolet El Camino | 1971 | 25000-30000 | 21000-25000 | 28000 | 23233 | sold |
| 55 | Jaguar E V12 Coupé | 1972 | 40000-45000 | 33500-37500 | 35000 | 29041 | sold under reserve |
| 55A | Jaguar XK 150 S 3,4 OTS | 1959 | 70000-80000 | 58500-66500 | 55000 | 45636 | sold subject to reservation |
| 56 | Porsche 928 S4 | 1987 | 15000-20000 | 12500-16500 | 13000 | 10787 | sold |
| 57 | Maserati Indy 4.2 | 1970 | 52000-56000 | 43500-46500 | 37500 | 31115 | not sold |
| 57A | Maserati Quattroporte IV | 1995 | 10000-12000 | 8500-10000 | 7000 | 5808 | sold |
| 58 | VW Beetle Standard "Pretzel" | 1950 | 28000-32000 | 23500-26500 | 34000 | 28211 | sold |
| 59 | Rolls-Royce Corniche I Convertible | 1976 | 65000-75000 | 54000-62500 | 55000 | 45636 | sold under reserve |
| 60 | Opel GT 1900 | 1972 | 14000-16000 | 11500-13500 | 16500 | 13691 | sold |
| 61 | Ferrari 348 ts | 1990 | 44000-48000 | 36500-40000 | 40000 | 33190 | sold under reserve |
| 62 | Ford F 100 Pick Up | 1966 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 18000 | 14935 | not sold |
| 63 | Heinkel cabin 154 | 1957 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 16000 | 13276 | sold under reserve |
| 64 | Daimler SP 250 Dart | 1960 | 35000-40000 | 29000-33500 | 27500 | 22818 | sold subject to reservation |
| 65 | DKW AU 1000 SP Coupé | 1962 | 25000-30000 | 21000-25000 | 17000 | 14106 | sold subject to reservation |
| 66 | Fiat 124 AC Sport Coupé | 1968 | 14000-16000 | 11500-13500 | 12500 | 10372 | sold |
| 67 | Alpine-Renault A310 V6 Group 4 | 1983 | 25000-30000 | 21000-25000 | 19000 | 15765 | sold under reserve |
| 68 | Alfa Romeo RZ Zagato | 1993 | 50000-60000 | 41500-50000 | 48000 | 39827 | sold |
| 69 | Bitter SC 4.0-24V | 1984 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 18000 | 14935 | sold |
| 70 | Ford Mustang Convertible | 1966 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 27000 | 22403 | sold |
| 71 | Godefroy & Levêque Cycle-Car Super B2 | 1917 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 27000 | 22403 | sold |
| 72 | Chevrolet Camaro Z 28 | 1980 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 17000 | 14106 | sold subject to reservation |
| 73 | Mercedes 280 SL California | 1969 | 35000-40000 | 29000-33500 | 34000 | 28211 | sold subject to reservation |
| 74 | Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BJ7 | 1962 | 75000-85000 | 62500-71000 | 66000 | 54763 | sold |
| 75 | Dodge Coronet 440/6 Wagon | 1969 | 50000-60000 | 41500-50000 | 46000 | 38168 | sold |
| 76 | Jaguar E V12 Roadster | 1974 | 50000-60000 | 41500-50000 | 50000 | 41487 | sold |
| 77 | AMC Rambler Classic 770 Cross Country | 1965 | 20000-25000 | 16500-21000 | 12000 | 9957 | not sold |
| 78 | Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 | 1984 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 25000 | 20743 | sold subject to reservation |
| 79 | Jaguar XK 120 OTS | 1953 | 70000-75000 | 58500-62500 | 60000 | 49784 | not sold |
| 80 | Fiat 500 C Belvedere | 1953 | 25000-28000 | 21000-23500 | 19000 | 15765 | not sold |
| 81 | Chevrolet Corvette | 1959 | 70000-75000 | 58500-62500 | 62500 | 51859 | sold under reserve |
| 82 | MG TD | 1952 | 30000-35000 | 25000-29000 | 24000 | 19914 | not sold |
| 83 | Overland Model 91 Tourer | 1924 | 30000-40000 | 25000-33500 | 14000 | 11616 | sold subject to reservation |
| 84 | Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn | 1955 | 40000-45000 | 33500-37500 | 38000 | 31530 | sold |
| 85 | Porsche 356 B 1600 T6 | 1961 | 45000-50000 | 37500-41500 | 45000 | 37338 | sold |
| 86 | Jaguar D-Type Replica by Proteus | 1974 | 80000-90000 | 66500-75000 | 77500 | 64305 | sold |
| 87 | Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 454 LS5 | 1971 | 35000-45000 | 29000-37500 | no bid | not sold |








































































































