Auction News Network

A Duesenberg Like No Other, $4.5m

A 1935 Duesenberg coupe, Model SJ, with a supercharged, 8-cylinder engine and a sexy body sold for $4.5m this past weekend by RM Auctions at the Amelia Island sale. Only three SJs came from the factory. This was the only one equipped with the supercharger.

With its low slung, sculpted profile, three speed transmission, and semi-automatic convertible top, the Model SJ was Duesenberg’s entry in a more aerodynamic, up to date design compared to some of its earlier models.  The SJ was designed by J. Herbert Newport. Coachwork by Walker-LaGrande.

Tiny Cars Draw Very Large Prices

It was the largest collection of the smallest cars in the world. Bruce Weiner began assembling his 200-strong collection microcars like the Peel P50 and Fiat Multipla more than 20 years ago. Last week, after declaring his collection complete, the candy magnate sold all but his 10 favorites in an auction hosted by RM that realized almost $8.1m. Top seller at the sale, which attracted more than 1,000 bidders, was a 1958 rose-colored F.M.R. Tg500 “Tiger,” which brought a whopping $322,000.

George Lucas’ Tucker May Fetch $2m

The Tucker motor car company produced just 51 examples of the Tucker 48, known as the Torpedo, before going out of business in 1949. Characterized by its suicide doors and distinctive center headlight, which was conceived to move in tandem with the steering wheel, the 1948 car was the creation of visionary Preston Tucker, whose struggles were chronicled in a 1988 film directed by Francis Coppola and produced by George Lucas. The 1948 example that RM will offer in Amelia Island next month has its own story, having been owned by Lucas himself. The product of an extensive restoration, it’s expected to sell for $1.5m-$1.9m.

Prices Soar At Scottsdale Classic Car Auctions

Little doubt remained about the extraordinary vitality of the vintage car market after the results at the multiple auctions that took place this past weekend in and around Scottsdale, Arizona. Gooding & Co. led the final tallies with a total of $52.5m, paced by the sale of a 1958 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spider for $8.25m. With six of the weekend top 10 sales, Gooding’s result was up 31% over last year’s sale, a pattern of growth that almost all the Scottsdale events mirrored.

Arizona Sales Launch Vintage Car Auction Season

In January, the place to be for vintage car collectors is Arizona, where a series of auctions happens every year in and around Phoenix. Both Gooding and RM will be hosting sales the weekend of January 18-19, when a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder, offered at Gooding and estimated at $5.5m-$7.5m, is likely to set the weekend’s pace. That is, unless it’s eclipsed by another ultra-rare Ferrari that RM is selling. It’s a 1960 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘Competizione,’ which has been exhibited at Pebble Beach, the Quail, and Italy’s Villa d’Este. RM is circumspect about its anticipated value, a tipoff about the sky-high price they’re expecting.

Paul McCartney’s DB5 In London Auction

When Sir Paul McCartney ordered his brand new Aston Martin DB5 in 1964, he specified that the car be fitted with musical notes stitched into the leather seats, as well as a Phillips record player. At the time, it set him back $5,900. When the DB5 appears at auction later this week in London—minus the musical notes, eliminated in a restoration—RM is expecting it to sell for around $621,000, or more than 100 times its original cost.

Update: Paul McCartney’s car fell a bit short of expectations, selling for $496,613. The auction’s star, an alloy-bodied 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, stalled below its reserve at $3,876,000, and failed to find a buyer.

Ferraris Rule At RM’s Monterey Sale

Gooding & Co.’s official Pebble Beach auction wasn’t the only place in Monterey where vintage car collectors were parting with millions this weekend. At RM’s two-day event, 20 cars sold for $1m or more. Ferraris ruled, as a 1962 250 GT short-wheelbase California Spyder achieved a result of $8.58m, and a 1956 250 GT LWB Berlinetta TdF realized $6.71m. “It’s only money, gentlemen,” urged the auctioneer. “You can always make more on Monday.”

1938 Maybach Scores $1.7m At Aalholm

Thousands of vintage car collectors and enthusiasts poured into the southern Danish island of Lolland this weekend for the auction of the famed—and highly unusual—collection at the Aalholm Automobile Museum. It had been a challenge for RM Auctions to value the 181 lots, most of which had sat unused for decades, so there were bound to be surprises. By far the biggest one, however, was the $1.7m paid for a 1938 Maybach Zeppelin DS8 Roadster. That was over 10 times the pre-sale estimate for the auction, which brought in $12.6m.

RM Offers Horch, Ferrari & Talbot Lago Rarities At Pebble Beach

Merely wanting a Horch motorcar wasn’t enough. Prospective buyers of the early German competitor to Mercedes had to demonstrate they had enough in the bank to reflect well on the brand.  Accordingly, the manufacturer—a precursor of the Audi—produced few automobiles. For example, Horch made only five Second Series Special Roadsters–one for Herman Goring–of which three exist. The 1938 example that RM Auctions will be offering at its Monterrey auction over the Pebble Beach Concours weekend has still another bonus: the 854A Special Roadster by Erdmann & Rossi won Best of Show at Pebble Beach. It’s expected to realize $6m-$8m.

Talbot-Lago, Ferrari Racers At RM Monaco

Originally intended for the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans, this 1950 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport racer wasn’t finished in time for the race. Instead, 1950 Le Mans winner Louis Rosier purchased the car for the 1951 race, in which he drove it with the 1950 Formula 1 champion, Juan-Manuel Fangio. After 92 laps an oil tank failure caused them to withdraw. For the past 54 years, the car’s had just one owner, who campaigned it in historic races. At RM’s Monaco sale next month, it’s expected to sell for $1.5m-$1.98m.

$38.3m For Famed Milhous Collection

Over the years, there may have been more valuable collections than the one assembled by the Milhous brothers, but there were few more idiosyncratic. Its core consisted of vintage automobiles and mechanical musical instruments, but it also included such rarities as a full-blown carousel with 42 animals, and a 1920 peanut and popcorn machine once pulled by two horses. This past weekend it all sold at an auction joint hosted by RM and Sotheby’s for $38.3m. Highest price item: a 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five Touring classic that fetched $3.3m, a new world auction record for an Oldsmobile.

A Carousel & Vintage Cars: Milhous Collection To Sell

Bob & Paul Milhous only wanted one object in an Austrian collection. It was a Weber Maestro orchestrion, a mechanical device that produces the sounds of a 24-piece orchestra. To close the deal, the brothers had to buy the entire 260-item collection. Through the years, they’ve added to it, so that their assortment of antique cars, mechanical musical devices, clocks and curiosities now totals over 1200 items. In late February, RM and Sotheby’s will sell it all for what’s expected to be more than $40m.

Ferraris Lead RM’s London Lineup

Between 1956 and 1959, Ferrari produced only 39 competition 250 GT LWB ‘Tour de France’ Berlinettas. The automobile isn’t just beautiful.  It is, in the opinion of many enthusiasts, the most important Ferrrai road/racing car ever built. The 1958 example that RM will be offering at its auction in London on October 26 is pristine, having been restored in Italy to a Ferrari Classiche standard, meaning that every component is as if it had just emerged from the factory. It’s estimated at $3.2-$3.8m.

Update: The 250 Berlinetta realized $3.58m, in the mid-range of its estimates.

World’s Oldest Running Car

Any guesses on the world’s oldest running motorcar? Hands down, it’s the 1884 De Dion Bouton Et Trepardoux Dos-A-Dos Steam Runabout, nicknamed “La Marquise.” Winner of the first car race in 1887—it was the only vehicle to show up—it has a top speed of 38mph, and is capable of running 20 miles on a tank of water. Amazingly, it was in one family for 81 years and has had only four owners since new. A double award winner at Pebble Beach in 1997, “La Marquise is expected to sell for $2m-$2.5m at RM’s auction tomorrow in Hershey, Pa.

UPDATE: The DeDion Bouton sold for $4.62m, almost double its high estimate, establishing a new auction record for an early motorcar.

Ike’s Presidential Limo For Sale

While he was president, Ike Eisenhower and his wife Mamie wanted a kind of personal limo that she could use, as well as one for parades and other formal occasions. What they got was a customized 1955 Cadillac. The car was bought by a European collector 20 years ago. He has shipped it to America to sell at an Auburn, Ind., auction this weekend.