Eighties Vehicles at Two Online Auctions in May 2020

The first completely online auctions from Barrett-Jackson and RM-Sotheby’s in May 2020 included a few vehicles from the 1980s—6% of the (85+193=278) lots offered between the two events. I’ll concentrate on the at least reasonably stock 1980s cars and trucks and add some of my opinions—I’ll leave the automobilia, boats, motorcycles, and tractors to others. Where I have covered the specific year and model of a car in this blog, I link to it.

Barrett-Jackson

• 1984 Oxford White Ford Mustang GT350 convertible with a white top, canyon red cloth bucket seats, a Windsor 175 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a Holley 4180 four-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and 4,800 miles—did not meet reserve.
• 1986 Victory Red Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, wheels/suspension, exterior, interior) pickup truck with a black bench seat, a Vortec 4.8 liter/293 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—did not meet reserve.
• 1985 Guards Red Porsche 911 Carrera Targa with black leather bucket seats, a 207 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 9,900 miles—$45,000 hammer price. That price makes this the first vehicle in this auction review to meet my criteria for serious collectability of 1980s cars or trucks in stock condition: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
• 1984 Blue Gunmetal Dodge Daytona Turbo hatchback coupe with checkered cloth bucket seats, a Turbo I 142 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 5,200 miles—$18,500. Almost certainly the most unusual eighties vehicle at this auction—who saves these cars?

• 1985 Black Porsche 911 Carrera custom (cabriolet and slant nose conversions) with black bucket seats, a 207 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 35,000 miles—$30,500

RM-Sotheby’s

• 1985 Midnight Blue Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with royal blue leather bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 44,000 miles—$13,500 hammer price.
• 1986 black Rolls-Royce Silver Spur limousine with gray leather seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—did not meet reserve.
• 1988 Midnight Blue Metallic Porsche 928 S4 with marine blue leather bucket seats, a 320 bhp 5.0 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$16,500
• 1981 Silver Metallic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, an automatic transmission, and 10,000 miles—$21,000
• 1985 camouflage AM General Humvee M998 SUV with tan bucket seats, a 6.2 liter diesel V8, and an automatic—$12,000
• 1987 Signal Red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a black convertible top, black leather bucket seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 36,000 miles—$33,000
• 1980 Sky Blue Toyota FJ43 Land Cruiser SUV with gray vinyl bucket seats, a 2F 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a five-speed manual—$26,000
• 1989 Astral Silver Metallic Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a black convertible top, black leather bucket seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 31,000 miles—$42,000
• 1989 Guards Red Porsche 911 Speedster convertible with a black top, black leather bucket seats, a 217 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 41 miles—$200,000
• 1980 beige Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser custom (mechanical, exterior, interior) SUV with beige leather bucket seats and a five-speed manual—did not meet reserve.
• 1981 Grigio Alfa-Romeo GTV6 2.5 hatchback coupe with tan bucket seats, a 154 bhp 2.5 liter/152 ci V6 with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 35,000 miles. This Alfa originally owned by Mario Andretti did not meet reserve.
• 1985 Rosso Ferrari 288 GTO coupe with black leather bucket seats, a 394 bhp 2.9 liter/175 ci V8 with fuel injection and twin turbochargers, a five-speed manual, and 15,000 miles—$2,100,000

• 1989 Grand Prix White Porsche 911 Carrera coupe with blue leather bucket seats, a 207 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 47,000 miles—did not meet reserve.