WHAT A NEAT IDEA FROM reader Steve Hagen: Old R&T Market Places “had some truly great buying opportunities,” he writes. Indeed, here are tidbits gleaned from just one issue, February 1955. I’ve obviously omitted the sellers’ particulars (contacts have likely changed). And I’ve listed current dollar equivalents in [brackets] using my handy CPI Inflation Calculator.
“1934 MONZA ALFA ROMEO.—The ex-Huntoon machine, winner Bridgehampton 1949. Condition excellent throughout. Many spares. 0-60, 7 sec. $3100 [$36,643] with spares, $2700 [$31,915] without.”
Car values, especially of such rarities as the Monza, have soared incredibly far beyond the CPI. The glenmarch website shows two Monza auction sales: $11,990,000 at Gooding & Company, Pebble Beach, 2016; and $1,160,000 at RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, 2021.
“ ’54 ARNOLT-BRISTOL. 2 litre sports competition model. Will sell for cash or trade for Porsche Coupe or other interesting car. 1950 PEUGEOT 1290 cc Convertible. Perfect condition. Michelin tires. Light blue with Black top, light blue leather and interior. $950 [$11,229].”
I’ve driven John Schieffelin’s Arnolt-Bristol at a practice session for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
Here I break my anonymity rule: The Arnolt-Bristol and Peugeot come from Bill Devin, whom R&T’s Henry Manney III called “The Enzo Ferrari of Okie Flats” and I knew through driving his Devin Super Sports.
Bill might have been interested in the following:
“1953 Porsche Coupe.—Maroon 1500 cc Super, excellent condition. New tires. Never Raced. 19,000 miles. Best offer over $3000 [$35,461] or trade for American car.”
Image from Road and Track, November 1952.
“Trade for American”? The Arnolt-Bristol was kinda half-American in a “Wacky” sorta way.
“Ferrari 1953 Mille Miglia. 4.1 litre, 3 Quad. Webers, two Magnetos. Excellent condition. New Brakes, clutch, tires and rear end. Never damaged. Spare parts, 1st place in 1954 at Pebble Beach, Seattle Sea Fair and Palm Springs. 2nd at Golden Gate. No trades. Price $8,000 [$94,563] FOB factory.”
This is another anonymity breaker: I suspect “Edwards Engineering” is Sterling Edwards, whose cars appeared regularly in R&T competition reports.
Here’s the Edwards Sports Car at Pebble Beach. Image from “The First Annual Pebble Beach Road Race.”
“Jaguar 1954 XK120 Modified Convertible. Pastel blue, red interior, black top, WW tires, low mileage. Runs and looks like new; never abused. $3250 [$38,416].”
I note that a goodly number of the era’s sports cars sported whitewall tires.
Image from “Jaguar Arithmetic.”
“ ’53 XK120M Jaguar Super Sports. Modified to ‘C’ specification. ‘C’ head, ‘C’ carburetors, ‘C’ clutch and close ratio gear box. Black, chromed wire wheels. Excellent condition. $3500 [$41,371]. Will consider offer.”
The “Modified” above was the M of Jaguar nomenclature. I wonder about the “Convertible” and “C.”
“MG TC ’48. Green. 31,000 miles, excellent condition, MK 2 head, carbs, valves. New rubber. Motor & wheels recently rebuilt. $1295 [$15,307].”
A 1949 MG TC. Image from R&T, October 1956.
There were two other TCs in this Market Place, one Marshall-Nordec supercharged, the other with a TD powerplant ($1075 [$12,707]). And there was also a TD with a Studebaker powertrain (price “Best offer over $950 [$11,229]”).
“1954 MORGAN PLUS 4 ROADSTER. Needs $300 [$3546] in parts and repairs. Engine relieved, ported, polished. First reasonable offer. Trade on XK 120 engine and transmission in excellent condition.”
Hmm…. DIY projects?
A 1952 Morgan Plus 4. Image from “Flat Rad—An R&T FIrst.”
“1951 MORGAN PLUS 4 ROADSTER. A good one. Nardi steering wheel. Other accessories. Details to sincere inquiries only. Best offer over $1000 [$11,840].”
Sincere? I’d guess there would be no response to asking what “A good one” means.
“TROUTMAN-BARNES MERCURY SPECIAL. (See R&T June ’54) New paint, Halibrand rear-end, 9 Mag. wheels & tires—10 gear changes—Extras. Ready to race. $6500 [$76,833].”
The ad, from no less than Dick Troutman.
Image from R&T, February 1955.
It would be good fun as well to take a particular make and model over the decades. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2025