The Merkur Club of America Forums

XR, Scorpio & Memorabilia AUCTION
Jack Middleton, a long time MCA member and Merkur enthusiast, is having his cars and memorabilia auctioned by Bonhams at Simeone Auto Museum, Philadelphia PA on 7 October 2019.

In addition to his Carlisle show winning Merkurs, there will be individual items and boxed lots from his extensive memorabilia collection. Jack’s Merkurs are garage kept and occasionally driven, especially to car shows. These exceptional examples of originally equipped Merkurs are meticulously maintained by Jeff LaBonte, one of the MCA’s most knowledgable and capable mechanics. Jack graciously provided his memorabilia to be displayed in Building G during the 2005 Nationals at Carlisle. [See photos]

You and any interested people are invited to the auction.

Jack is in the process of moving from his long time residence in Connecticut to Florida. Please contact me with any questions. Telephone land line - no text - please leave message 610-776-7575 or email BWEIR4U@RCN.COM

Bob Weir

PPS Sorry about the lack of car photos, but Bonhams packaged and shipped everything before Jack had a chance to select some photos. They’re show winners and I expect Bonhams is particular in what they auction.

Additional information:

Bonhams
How to buy
https://www.bonhams.com/how_to_buy/
Auction
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25222/#/

Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
https://www.simeonemuseum.org

1989 XR4Ti [Crystal Blue Metallic / Gray leather] 62k+ miles
Awards:
Preservation Award 2006
2nd Place Show Field Award 2007 
Third Place XR4Ti Show Field 2012
Preservation Award 2012

1988 Scorpio [Burgundy Red / Raven leather] 70k+ miles
Awards:
First Place Scorpio 2005
Preservation Award 2006
Best in Show Field Award 2007
Preservation Award 2009
First Place Scorpio 2012
Best in Show Field Award 2015

I see where Bonhams said a catalog will be available four weeks prior to the auction.

Thanks for the heads up, Bob!
I have a lot of unique stuff myself, but I'm always on the lookout for more.

For anyone interested in watching it live, here's the link

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25222/live/

Scorpio sold for $1792.
Now I'm gonna give my wife a bunch o crap... I wanted to buy it and she wouldn't let me!!!
XR sold for $2240.

IMO, would done a lot better on BAT.

Wow, either those cars had declined some or the buyer got a HUGE bargain.

R Code wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:52 pm Wow, either those cars had declined some or the buyer got a HUGE bargain.

Biggest bargains ever.
I looked the the other stuff in the auction. IMO, it's a bit too high-falutin a place to sell a Merkur.
IMO, BAT is the place where one goes to sell an oddball car.

Could try to sell it here, but this place is full of cheapskates!

eaton53 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:06 pm

R Code wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:52 pm Wow, either those cars had declined some or the buyer got a HUGE bargain.

Biggest bargains ever.
I looked the the other stuff in the auction. IMO, it's a bit too high-falutin a place to sell a Merkur.
IMO, BAT is the place where one goes to sell an oddball car.

Could try to sell it here, but this place is full of cheapskates!

BAT doesn't like XR4Tis. A few have tried to sell there only to be denied.

whitelx wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:28 pm

eaton53 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:06 pm

R Code wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:52 pm Wow, either those cars had declined some or the buyer got a HUGE bargain.

Biggest bargains ever.
I looked the the other stuff in the auction. IMO, it's a bit too high-falutin a place to sell a Merkur.
IMO, BAT is the place where one goes to sell an oddball car.

Could try to sell it here, but this place is full of cheapskates!

BAT doesn't like XR4Tis. A few have tried to sell there only to be denied.

Good ones don't seem to have any trouble getting on there.

Here's a Preservation Award winner that got $6K.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-merkur-xr4ti-2/
That was Craig Madsen's car. He sold me the wheels that are on my XR.

This one's similar (but not as good) to the one that was sold today:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-merkur-xr4ti/
It got $4550, far more than the Bonham's auction brought.

There have been seven XRs on BAT in the last few years, most of them bid over $4K.
Yes, trying to get one with issues on there will probably result in getting turned down.
I'd be shocked if any no excuses Preservation Award winner ever got denied.

I wonder if the champion is in the MCA?

eaton53 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:50 pm Scorpio sold for $1792.
Now I'm gonna give my wife a bunch o crap... I wanted to buy it and she wouldn't let me!!!
XR sold for $2240.

Wow, two BARGAINS!

eaton53 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:06 pm

R Code wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:52 pm Wow, either those cars had declined some or the buyer got a HUGE bargain.

Biggest bargains ever.
I looked the the other stuff in the auction. IMO, it's a bit too high-falutin a place to sell a Merkur.
IMO, BAT is the place where one goes to sell an oddball car.

Could try to sell it here, but this place is full of cheapskates!

Watch your language. We are dedicated Bottom Fishers.

YMMV

Ed Lijewski wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 1:33 pm

eaton53 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:06 pm

R Code wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 4:52 pm Wow, either those cars had declined some or the buyer got a HUGE bargain.

Biggest bargains ever.
I looked the the other stuff in the auction. IMO, it's a bit too high-falutin a place to sell a Merkur.
IMO, BAT is the place where one goes to sell an oddball car.

Could try to sell it here, but this place is full of cheapskates!

Watch your language. We are dedicated Bottom Fishers.

YMMV

Are you the Kingfisher?

I paid $900. So guess Mariana Trench level over here.

andyofcolumbusmerkur wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 8:27 pmI paid $900. So guess Mariana Trench level over here.

Well, it seems they're all relatively cheap no matter how good.

It's got me thinking... as cheap as these cars are, I may yet revive my original 2015 idea of making a Sierra Cosworth.
Not using my car (I would keep on doing what I do with it) or another show winner, but getting a clean original driver and giving it a strictly cosmetic treatment.

It would cost a lot less than a "modern" car and be a lot better looking, too.
I also want to see what Wheeler Dealers does to theirs.

I haven't done a ton of research, but clean XR4s seem to hold some value in the UK, with Cosworth's @ a 4-8x multiple.