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Image Courtesy of Mecum Auctions

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

***WITHDRAWN***

(Mecum Auctions, Tulsa, Oklahoma)

This 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback has been donated by the seller with proceeds to benefit the Tulsa Community Foundation. KK no. 2011, it is presented in highly original condition and is one of only 859 Boss 429 Mustangs produced in 1969. The Boss 429 was created to homologate Ford’s new 429 CI V-8 engine for NASCAR racing and features a Boss 429 CI V-8 engine, Holley 4-barrel 735 CFM carburetor, aluminum intake manifold, semi-hemispherical combustion chamber, four-bolt main caps, forged steel crank and connecting rods, 3.91 Traction-Lok differential, 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter and original factory 15×7-inch Magnum 500 wheels with F60x15 Goodyear Polyglas GT tires.

Estimate: Not Provided

Prediction: We think it’s awesome that somebody donated a car like this, at no reserve with proceeds going to benefit non-profit (and there’s several more outstanding cars in this group as well, including a 1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible and a Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special), but the charity component can sometimes be an unpredictable variable. Some auctions really play up to this and if it’s a preferred organization with a large enough footprint (that the auction principles are excited about), they can do extraordinarily well. Other times, not so much. Over the last couple of months, we’ve also witnessed what appears to be the excitement that no reserve offerings generate dissipating a little bit too. It just doesn’t seem that people get as fired up about the no reserve tag as they used to. We’re hoping that the first part on this one offsets the second part a little bit and this car sells where it’s supposed to. There’s a lot of absurdly over restored Boss 429 examples out there in the world, so for us, we think the originality is cool. Whether or not that brings a premium, we’ll have to see, but based on our 100-yard guesstimate on condition, it’s probably safe to bet that this is a number three car and it should pull somewhere between $200,000 and $225,000 as a result. Big props to the seller for offering these cars this way. We’re rooting for them for sure!

Image Courtesy of Bring-a-Trailer

1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34

(Bring-a-Trailer, Online)

This 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R was acquired out of Japan by the selling dealer in 2024 and brought to the US in 2025. Finished in Bayside Blue, the car wears a Z-Tune front bumper and NISMO side skirts and rear spats in addition to a V-Spec front splitter and reproduction rear diffuser. It rides on 18″ NISMO LMGT4 forged alloy wheels joined by HKS Hypermax adjustable coilovers and gold Brembo brake calipers at each corner. Power is supplied twin-turbocharged 2.6L RB26DETT inline-six that sends power to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission linked with an ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system featuring a limited-slip rear differential. Inside, seats trimmed in textured gray cloth with suede inserts are accompanied by a NISMO instrument cluster and Version II central digital display as well as a Panasonic head unit. Further modifications include an Impul ECU and an ARC titanium exhaust system along with a NISMO intercooler, up-pipe, and turbo outlet piping. This R34 Skyline GT-R is now offered by the selling dealer in California with a Car VX report, import documents, parts certificates, and a Virginia title.

Estimate: Not Provided

Prediction: It’s hard to disagree with the generational significance of a Bayside Blue, R34 GT-R. It’s yesteryears Hemi Mopar, Bullitt Mustang, etc all rolled up into one. Obviously, the frenzy on these things when they were first allowed on our shores was insane. That definitely appears to have cooled a little bit, but well equipped, desirable editions of this car have serious legs, for what is likely a very long time. Although it looks the part and has outstanding, low mileage, this isn’t really one of those cars. Definitely tastefully upgraded and with a lot of parts that would indicate that it isn’t, this is ultimately more of a base model example that somebody built right and as a result, it will probably lose the highest of high end buyers. This car is still nothing to stick your nose up at however. This one is very usable, will be absolutely irresistible at virtually any car event, assuredly stops traffic basically everywhere and will definitely provide somebody with an awesome ownership experience. I suspect the person who ends up with this car will buy it for at least one of those reasons and for them, it will be worth every bit of the $175,000 – $195,000 that we are guessing it’s going to take to bring it home.

Image Courtesy of Cars and Bids

1970 Lamborghini Espada Series II

(Cars and Bids, Online)

1 of just 575 Series II examples produced, this 1970 Lamborghini Espada Series II is finished in red with a black interior. A partial list of notable currently installed equipment reported by the seller includes 15-inch Campagnolo wheels, leather upholstery, wood cabin trim, power windows, dual electric radiator fans, and more as detailed below. Envisioned by Ferruccio Lamborghini as an “Italian Rolls-Royce,” the Espada emerged in 1968—just five years after the tractor magnate and disillusioned former Ferrari customer began producing competing exotics under his own name. Styled by an ambitious young Marcello Gandini under Nuccio Bertone, the Espada featured a — slightly — detuned version of the Miura’s Bizzarrini V12, a spacious four-seat cabin, and offered legitimate cross-continental comfort and luxury for a quartet of ground-going jet-setters—making it perhaps the most compelling and distinctive ultra-GT of its era. Power comes from a 3.9-liter V12, rated at about 345 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque. Output is sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission.

Estimate: Not Provided

Prediction: I get asked often, what my favorite era/favorite segment of cars is. For me it’s pretty simple: I absolutely love 1970’s Italian cars. There’s just a freaky weirdness about them that I find completely and totally engaging and I genuinely enjoy that. This is quite likely demonstrated nowhere better than with the Lamborghini Espada. It’s like buying a pet rhinoceros and then convincing it (begrudgingly), to let you ride it down the street. These are just big, raucous creatures and the overall package is a lot of fun. As also demonstrated above, we tend to like to pick cars that have variables to them for these newsletters and this one’s got a couple. First of all, the obvious is that it’s quite likely in the general realm of project condition and it definitely has signs of sitting. If you’ve ever attempted to bring back a car that’s been in storage for long periods of time, you know that it’s often a road that can start and end in completely different places with a lot of twists and turns along the way. Couple in the 1970s Italian part and this is going to be a real adventure for somebody. Whether or not that’s something you’re into (I think this looks like an incredibly cool and super interesting project) and something you’re looking for, that could certainly change its appeal, but they got to find the right buyer on this one for sure. That leads to the other variable here: Cars and Bids is fairly new to the vintage car thing and there’s definitely some stuff they haven’t figured out yet as a result. Whether or not this is the right place for this car is a little bit up in the air, but I think if the seller is realistic about what this actually is, they can probably get it done. A number four condition example of a Series II Espada floats in the general area of $50K or so. Considering the risks involved, I think that’s a little on the optimistic side. This to me looks like a $35,000 to $40,000 car. We’ll see if the seller agrees…..

Image Courtesy of Raleigh Classic Car Auctions

1973 Austin Mini

(Raleigh Classic Car Auction, Youngsville, North Carolina)

SOLD $13,750

Description: This 1973 Mini is a great example of an iconic classic. Its Bright Red exterior is nicely complimented by its white painted top fitted with the Union Jack decal, factory chrome and stainless trim, and period correct Mini-Lite wheels wrapped in new Michelin tires by Coker Tire. The Mini’s factory black, grey and red patterned cloth and vinyl interior is in very good condition for the age. Powering this great Mini is its correct 998CC Inline 4-cylinder engine backed by its 4-speed manual transmission. Both the engine and transmission perform just as they should and deliver that very sporty driving experience that these Mini’s are known for. This Mini is nicely equipped from the factory with options such as power front disc brakes, variable speed wipers, in-dash tachometer, rear defrost and heater/defrost.

Estimate: Not Provided

How We Did: These are awesome little cars and they check a ton of boxes for a lot of people, in multiple directions at once. For the new or incoming collector, this is a great entry point, with excellent parts availability and outstanding enthusiast support, in an iconic, but still pretty inexpensive package. If you’re on the other end of things, these are reasonably low maintenance, easy to work on, don’t take up a ton of space, they’re economical and stupidly fun to drive. As more and more of these are beginning to become available on our shores, it’s clear that the demand for them is there. Especially nice examples (which this one appears to be). Fees notwithstanding, this one went right at the top of the predicted range, where it probably should have. Well bought, well sold and everyone wins here.

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