Other highlights: 1906 Indian Camelback motorized bicycle, $61,500; Gilbarco gas pump with porcelain Mohawk Indian face, $31,980; circa-1930s Zeroline single-sided porcelain sign, $28,800
DENVER, Pa. – The two top-selling lots at Morphy’s October 4 Automobilia, Petroliana & Advertising auction were full-size vintage automobiles. An impressive 1932 Cadillac 355-B seven-passenger Imperial limousine registered to notorious gangster Al Capone sped off for $78,000, while a well-documented silver-blue metallic1964 Chevrolet Impala hardtop crossed the finish line at $74,400.
The rest of the auction consisted of more than 650 lots of motoring-related signage, service station items and vehicles designed to please collectors at every price point. The event was held live at Morphy’s Pennsylvania gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available. Morphy’s has long-been renowned as the auction house collectors depend on for rare automobilia and petroliana.
The 1932 Cadillac 355-B seven-passenger Imperial limousine with body by Fisher was finished in cream with burgundy fenders and accents. A binder documented nearly $95,000 worth of mechanical restoration, refurbishment and detailing had been performed by Classic & Exotic Service in 2011 and 2012. A New York Certificate of Sale identified notorious Prohibition-era gangster Alphonse “Al” Capone as its original purchaser/owner. Rochelle Cadillac Co., of New Rochelle, New York, was shown as the seller. The $78,000 final selling price was just shy of the $80,000 high estimate.
The well-documented 1964 Chevrolet Impala finished in silver blue metallic over a coordinated blue bucket-seat interior had a VIN # of 41447S178226, identifying it as a genuine St Louis-built V-8 Super Sport hardtop. Power was supplied by Chevy’s dual-quad 409-c.i. engine, producing 425 horsepower thru 11.0:1 compression. The odometer displayed 52,659 miles. The car started with ease and the drive was very smooth. The $74,400 final selling price landed within estimate.
Following the two automobiles, the auction’s number three top achiever was a1906 Indian Camelback motorized bicycle built by The Hendree Manufacturing Company (later The Indian Motocycle Company, with no “R” in motorcycle). The bike was a true survivor in barn-fresh condition, retaining its factory paint job in Springfield Blue, while the 311 cubic inch, 2.25-hp air-cooled single-cylinder motor with a production number of 2877 was untouched, with all major components intact. The motor turned over with good compression, the wheels spun freely, and the brakes worked just fine. One lucky bidder “rode” it home for $61,500.
A Gilbarco gas pump originally found in Northern California, one of very few known examples with a porcelain Mohawk Indian computing face, changed hands for $31,980, topping the $30,000 high estimate. The pump’s condition was described as being like NOS (new/old stock). The color and gloss were perfect, with no notable wear to the Indian graphic, and it lit up nicely.
There were two bona fide “sleepers” in the sale. One was a circa-1930s single-sided porcelain flange sign graded 9.0 for the Pickwick Stages Ticket Office, an excellent example of a seldom-seen sign. Each side displayed excellent color and gloss, with no noticeable field wear. The 28¾-inch by 25½-inch sign more than doubled the $8,000 high estimate, reaching $19,680.
The second of the two sleepers was just as impressive. It was a circa-1930s Zeroline (“The Standard Oil For Motor Cars”) single-sided porcelain sign, 23¾ inches in diameter and graded 9.0 out of 10 for condition. The sign showed very good color throughout and a great graphic, which no doubt helped it to more than double its $12,000 high estimate and realize a robust $28,800.
Also from Zeroline, an extremely rare circa-1910s Zeroline Motor Oils (“Modern Crankcase Cleaning Service”) double-sided porcelain flange sign was originally issued by Standard Oil Company of California. The sign exhibited bright color and gloss on each side, with mint-condition graphics for Zeroline and Calol, each showing a different bear graphic. This type of early Standard advertising sign is seldom offered for sale in the public marketplace. Measuring 23¾ inches by 17½ inches, the auction example was graded 8.25+ and hit $24,600, easily besting the $15,000 high estimate.
An incredible example of a single-sided porcelain neon sign for Chevrolet Super Service, in original condition free of any touch-up or repair of any kind, measured 48½ inches by 41½ inches by 8¾ inches and was graded 9.5+ for condition. It sold within estimate for $23,000. The sign illuminated in original neon green and blue and retained all of its original glass and hardware. Also, it was mounted on a newly-made custom metal can in perfect condition, ready for display.
A rare one-quart can of Husky Heavy Duty Motor Oil (Husky Oil Company, Cody, Wyoming), 5½ inches tall and graded 8.9+, displayed outstanding color and gloss on each side, with multiple graphics and lettering in consistently fine condition. Minor paint rubs at the rims did not extend into the lettering or graphics. Collectors would have been hard-pressed to find another example in such a high grade, and one savvy bidder snapped it up for $13,530.
Rounding out some the auction’s top-selling lots, a complete 13 ¼-inch Ben Franklin ethyl gasoline globe approached its $14,000 high estimate in realizing $13,200. The globe was mounted on an original excellent-condition red ripple body that showed only minimal age wear. It had a condition grade of 8.75+.
To discuss consigning to a future Automobilia, Petroliana & Advertising auction, or other auction hosted by Morphy’s, call Dan Morphy at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential, and there is never an obligation to consign. Online: www.morphyauctions.com.
CAPTIONS:
All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions
1009 –
Single-sided porcelain neon sign for Chevrolet Super Service, in original condition, measuring 48½ inches by 41½ inches by 8¾ inches and graded 9.5+ for condition. Sold for $23,000
1147 –
Gilbarco gas pump originally found in Northern California, one of very few known examples with a porcelain Mohawk Indian computing face. Perfect color and gloss. Sold for $31,980
1202 –
1906 Indian Camelback motorized bicycle built by The Hendree Mfg Co (later The Indian Motocycle Company, with no “R” in motorcycle), a true survivor in barn-fresh condition. Sold for $61,500
1205 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/1932_CADILLAC_355_B_IMPERIAL_LIMOUSINE_-LOT673927.aspx
1932 Cadillac 355-B seven-passenger Imperial limousine with a New York Certificate of Sale documenting gangster Alphonse “Al” Capone as the original purchaser. Sold for $78,000
1207 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/1964_CHEVROLET_IMPALA_SS_409_SPORT_COUPE_HARDTOP_-LOT673929.aspx
Well-documented 1964 Chevrolet Impala hardtop finished in silver blue metallic over a blue bucket-seat interior, powered by Chevy’s legendary dual-quad 409-c.i. engine. Sold for $74,400
1238 –
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/RARE_HUSKY_HEAVY_DUTY_MOTOR_OIL_QUART_CAN-LOT675677.aspx
Scarce one-quart can of Husky Heavy Duty Motor Oil (Husky Oil Company, Cody, Wyoming), 5½ inches tall and graded 8.9+ for condition, with outstanding color and gloss. Sold for $13,530
1328 –
Scarce circa-1910s Zeroline Motor Oils (“Modern Crankcase Cleaning Service”) double-sided porcelain flange sign, from Standard Oil Company of California, graded 8.25+. Sold for $24,600
1486 –
Circa-1930s single-sided porcelain flange sign for the Pickwick Stages Ticket Office, an excellent example of a seldom-seen sign measuring 28¾ inches by 25½ inches. Sold for $19,680
1543 –
Ben Franklin complete 13 ¼-inch gas ethyl gasoline globe, mounted on an original red ripple body in excellent condition, with a repainted metal screw base collar. Sold for $13,200
1575 –
Circa-1930s Zeroline (“The Standard Oil For Motor Cars”) single-sided porcelain sign, 23¾ inches in diameter, graded 9.0, with very good color and a great graphic. Sold for $28,800
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