WorldWide hits 10 years in Houston

Equipped with a continental kit, this 1959 Edsel Corsair convertible sold for
$30,000 at the WorldWide Group’s Houston auction. (Phil Skinner photo)

Phil Skinner reporting

In May of 2002, Rod Egan and John Kruse set out on a daring adventure, establishing their own auction house, World Wide Auction Group, and conducting their first sale in a field just outside of Houston-suburb Katy, Texas. Just minutes before the first car was set to run over the block, a deluge hit the area with over two inches of rain flooding the field and sales tent. The start time was pushed back, everyone worked together and history was made as World Wide’s first event was declared a success. A bit soggy, but a success.

Since that first event nine years ago, Egan and Kruse have witnessed a lot of water crossing under the bridge. But after their 2011 edition of the Houston Classic held at the Keels And Wheels Concours in Seabrook, Texas, it appears that their bridge has a solid foundation and is quite secure.

On April, 30, 129 lots crossed the auction block in a spacious, air-conditioned tent. When the declared sales were tallied, the figures were impressive. Successful bids were seen on 95 of those 129 lots for a 73.6 percent sell-through rating. The dollar figures also appeared strong, with $4,288,250 on the hammer, on top of which a 10 percent buyer’s premium was added for a sale total of $4,717,075.

This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS convertible, equipped with the LS6 454-cid V-8, sold for $215,000 at WorldWide’s Houston auction. (Phil Skinner photo)

A wide assortment of vehicles were offered ranging from a 1909 Hupmobile that sold for $17,500, to several performance vehicles including a rare R-code ’69 Ford Mustang convertible equipped with the Cobra Jet 428-cid V-8 that sold for $130,000.

Muscle cars seemed to be picking up interest again, but were still below values from four to five years ago as evidenced by a ’70 Chevrolet Chevelle SS convertible, equipped with a numbers-matching LS6 454-cid/450-hp V-8, declared sold at $215,000, which was also the top-dollar sale in Houston.

Among the unusual offerings was a rare “Tropical Cabriolet” BMW Isetta 300 that was called sold at $38,000 and a solid, unrestored ’67 Volkswagen “Walk-Though/Barn Door” van that went to a new owner for $31,000.

A 1957 BMW Isetta 300 rear cabriolet convertible sold for $35,000 at the
WorldWide Group’s Houston auction. (Phil Skinner photo)

“We are pleased with the results of today’s sale,” John Kruse told Old Cars Weekly shortly after the sale had ended. “We had excellent response from consignors for great cars and lots of enthusiastic bidders, which is encouraging. There are also a couple of deals we are real close on getting put together, so our numbers will be stronger than ever.”

This auction is held in conjunction with the Keels And Wheels Concours d’Elegance at the Lakewood Yacht Club. Among the notable no-sales of this event was a highly documented 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda convertible featuring a restoration in black, with a proper date-coded block. It was a no-sale at $1,400,000, but was rumored to be one of the cars that was undergoing post-sale negotiations.

WORLDWIDE GROUP HOUSTON
Houston, Texas, 4-30-2011
Phil Skinner reporting

Vehicles listed were declared sold.
Reportedly, 129 were offered.

Year/Make/Model Price/Condition

1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spyder Duetto 2d Conv $15,000 2
2003 Aston Martin DB Vantage Volante 2d Conv $59,000 2
1960 Austin-Healey Mk 1 BN7 2d Rds $50,000 2

1934 Bentley 3-1/2 Litre Parkward Drop Head 3-Pos. Top 2d Conv, RHD $130,000 2
1957 BMW Isetta 300 Rear Cabriolet 1d Conv $35,000 2
1954 Buick Skylark 2d Conv, WW $130,000 2
1961 Buick Electra 225 2d Conv, A/C $65,000 1
1970 Buick GS455 2d Conv, Stage 1 455-cid, 345-hp, Auto $115,000 2
1987 Buick Regal 2d HT, Turbo V-6, Auto $22,000 2

1954 Cadillac Eldo 2d Conv, w/parade boot $100,000 2
1957 Cadillac Eldo Biarritz 2d Conv, w/parade boot $130,000 2
1959 Cadillac 62 2d HT, 390-cid, 325-hp, Auto $24,000 3
1976 Cadillac Sev 4d Sed, 350-cid, Auto $7,750 3

1939 Chevrolet Master 2d Cpe Rod, 350-cid, Auto $23,000 2
1941 Chevrolet Spl DeL 2d Business Cpe, 216-cid, 90-hp, 3-Spd $35,000 2
1954 Chevrolet Corvette 2d Rds, 235-cid, 150-hp, Auto, w/HT $79,000 2
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2d HT Sta Wag Mod, 350-cid, Auto $70,000 1
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 2d HT, 265-cid, 205-hp, Auto $45,000 2
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2d HT Sta Wag Mod, 350-cid, Auto $46,000 1
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2d Conv, 283-cid, 220-hp, Auto $80,000 2
1958 Chevrolet Apache 32 2d 1/2T PU, 6-cyl, 3-Spd $22,500 3
1961 Chevrolet Corvette 2d Conv, FI 283-cid, 315-hp, 4-Spd $83,650 2
1962 Chevrolet Corvette 2d Conv, 327-cid, 300-hp, 4-Spd $52,000 2
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2d HT, 409-cid, 340-hp, 4-Spd $31,000 2
1968 Chevrolet Camaro 2d Conv Mod, non-orig 396-cid, 4-Spd $46,000 1
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 2d Cpe, 302-cid, 290-hp, 2x4V, 4-Spd $67,000 2
1970 Chevrolet Corvette 2d T-top Cpe, 454-cid, 390-hp, Auto, w/side pipes $28,000 3
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 2d Conv, LS6 454-cid, 450-hp, Auto $215,000 2
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 2d HT, 396-cid, 325-hp, Auto $37,500 2
1973 Chevrolet Cus 10 2d 1/2T PU Mod, 400-cid, Auto $8,000 3
1934 Chrysler Airflow 4d Sed $38,000 3

1976 Datsun 280Z 2d Cpe, 4-Spd $8,000 3
1987 Dodge Ram Charger LE150 2d SUV 4x4, 5.2L, Auto $8,250 3
1959 Edsel Corsair 2d Conv, 361-cid, 303-hp, Auto, w/cont kit $30,000 3

1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 Pinin Farina 2d Cpe, Borani WW $74,000 2
1979 Ferrari 308GTB 2d Cpe $21,000 3
1967 Fiat 1500 Pinin Farina 2d Conv $20,000 2
1921 Ford T C-cab Panel $16,500 3
1928 Ford A 2d Rds PU $18,000 3
1928 Ford A 4d Trg $20,000 2
1930 Ford A 2d Rds, R/S, SMts $15,500 3
1931 Ford A 2d PU, SMt $21,000 2
1936 Ford DeL 68 4d Phae, 221-cid, 85-hp, 3-Spd, w/orig radio $45,000 2
1938 Ford V8 2d 1/2T PU, 221-cid, 85-hp, 3-Spd $24,000 2
1946 Ford Sup DeL 2d Cpe, 239-cid, 100-hp, 3-Spd $14,500 3
1946 Ford Sup DeL 2d Conv, 239-cid, 100-hp, 3-Spd $25,000 3
1952 Ford Crestline Vic 2d HT Mod, Buick 401-cid, Auto, ’52 Curvemaster test car $18,000 3
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner 2d HT Conv, 312-cid, 245-hp, Auto $31,500 3
1957 Ford Ranch Wagon 2d Sta Wag, 292-cid, Auto $27,500 2
1957 Ford T-bird 2d Conv, 312-cid, 245-hp, Auto, w/both tops $49,000 3
1957 Ford T-bird 2d Conv, 312-cid, 245-hp, Auto, w/soft top only $24,500 3
1957 Ford Ranchero DeL 2d PU Mod, non-orig 292-cid, Auto $34,000 2
1959 Ford Galaxie 2d HT, 332-cid, Auto $10,500 3
1963 Ford Galaxie 2d Sed, R code 427-cid, 425-hp, 4-Spd $47,000 3
1963 Ford T-bird 2d HT, M code 390-cid, 330-hp, Auto $22,000 3
1966 Ford Mustang 2+2 2d FBk Mod, non-orig 289-cid, 225-hp, Auto $21,000 3
1969 Ford Mustang 2d Conv, R code Cobra Jet 428-cid, 335-hp, 4-Spd $130,000 2
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 2d FBk, R code Cobra Jet 428-cid, 4-Spd $49,000 2
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 2d FBk, J code 429-cid, 370-hp, 4-Spd $60,000 2
2010 Ford Fusion Race Car, ex-Kasey Kahne/Petty Motorsports #9 NASCAR $66,000 3

1909 Hupmobile 20 Rds, RHD $17,500 4
1953 Jaguar XK-120 2d Rds $80,000 2
1959 Jaguar XK-150 2d Conv, 3781cc, 4-Spd $67,000 2
1967 Jaguar XK-E I 4.2 2d Conv $77,500 2
1970 Jaguar XK-E II 4.2 2d Conv, 265-hp, 4-Spd $60,000 2

1923 Lincoln L Brunn 2d Cpe $30,000 3
1959 Lincoln Cont Mk IV 2d Conv, 68,235 orig miles $29,000 3
1965 Lincoln Cont Lehmann-Peterson 4d Limo, ex-actor Victor Borge car $17,500 3

1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL 2d Conv, 4-Spd $61,000 2
1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SL 2d Conv, w/both tops $25,000 3
1980 MGB Ltd 2d Conv $9,500 2

1958 Oldsmobile 88 2d Conv, 371-cid, Auto $39,500 3
1959 Oldsmobile 98 2d Conv $20,000 4
1923 Overland 91 4d Trg $17,000 2

1958 Packard Hawk 2d HT, SC 289-cid, 275-hp, Auto $45,000 3
1929 Pierce-Arrow 133 2d Rds, R/S, SMts $76,000 3
1936 Pierce-Arrow 1602-12 Conv, R/S, w/orig radio & heater $200,000 2
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 2d Conv, 383-cid, 330-hp, Auto $35,000 2
1958 Pontiac Bonneville 2d Conv, 371-cid, 3x2V, Auto $55,000 3
1965 Pontiac Tempest LeMans GTO 2d Conv, 389-cid, 360-hp, 3x2V, 4-Spd $72,000 1
1968 Pontiac GTO 2d HT, 400-cid, 350-hp, 4-Spd $25,000 3
1957 Porsche 356A Speedster 1600S 2d Rds $147,500 1

1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II 4d Sed, LWB, w/divider window $54,000 3
1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 2d Conv, R code 428-cid, 360-hp, 4-Spd $165,000 2

1967 Volkswagen Transporter Type II Walk-Through 4d Pass Van $31,000 3
1970 Volkswagen Beetle 2d Sed Mod $9,500 3
1974 Volkswagen “The Thing” 4d Phae $9,000 3

Miscellaneous

1999 Beck Porsche 550 Spyder 2d Rds Kit/Replica, VW 1600cc, 4-Spd $25,000 2
1997 Mauck Spl 3d Utly, mobile office/entertainment veh $27,500 3
19?? SPCN ‘30 Alfa Romeo 8C 2d Rds Kit/Replica, body only $30,000 3
19?? SPCN ‘39 Ford DeL 2d Rds Rod Kit/Replica, Chevy LS1, Auto $60,000 1
1890 SPCN Wooden Bicycle $2,250 3
2009 Superformance ‘65 Cobra 2d Rds Kit/Replica, Ford 427-cid, 5-Spd $50,000 1