by Rick Carey



Lot # 129 1937 Lancia Aprilia 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 384515 Engine #: 4834; Dark Blue / Grey Cloth; Estimate $13,713 - $18,284; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $14,627 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price: $16,821 -- RHD. 'Condor' radio, rear window shade. Older restoration that shows its age but is still eminently usable and very presentable. Most of the time it costs a fortune to own a car like one driven by Nuvolari, however he is known to have favored Aprilias for daily use. They have adequate performance, nimble handling, comfort and size. Not only is this Aprilia a lot less expensive than an Alfa Tipo B or Auto Union, it probably cost less than the price of a tuneup for either one of them. Driving down a gravel road won't risk the first-born's college fund, either. -- Bonhams & Brooks, Nürburgring, Oldtimer GP, 8/11/2001.

1985 Alfa Romeo 185T Formula 1
by Rick Carey



Lot # 159 1985 Alfa Romeo 185T Formula 1; S/N 003; Green "Benetton"; Estimate $57,138 - $63,994; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $31,997 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price: $36,797 -- Ex-Ricardo Patrese. 9th at Silverstone was the best placing. Now fitted with "experimental V6 engine developed by Carlo Chiti ... has not run since 1996." That statement infers it once ran, although it's far less than a guarantee, and even if it did no one is saying it ran "well". An Alfa F1 car with a one-off experimental engine for which parts and any kind of support are nonexistent and for which 9th (with a different engine) is its best showing? To paraphrase W.C. Fields, "Second prize is two of them." The expense involved in making this Alfa a runner is frightening even to contemplate, making this a handsome price for a piece of room décor. The seller must be very glad to be rid of it. -- Bonhams & Brooks, Nürburgring, Oldtimer GP, 8/11/2001.