May 2015 - US auction previews
22 April, 2015
The 78-vehicle Andrews Collection goes under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s sale in Fort Worth on 2 May. Described as arguably the most significant car collection ever presented at a single-vendor sale, father and son Paul and Chris Andrews’ diverse interests have resulted in a collection spanning hot rods to ‘blue chip’ classics and contemporary supercars – all offered without reserve.
Stars of the collection are a pair of Ferrari 400 Superamericas; a 1962 SWB Cabriolet, exhibited at the 1962 Geneva and New York motor shows prior to being raced by its original owner at the Bonneville Salt Flats (estimate $7,000,000 – 8,500,000); and a 1963 LWB Coupe, one of just 18 Series II examples built (estimate $3,500,000 – 4,500,000).
The sale also features notable pre-war American Classics, including; a one-off streamlined 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car by Bohman & Schwartz, built for the Mars heiress Ethel Mars (estimate $3,400,000 – $4,500,000); and a 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Convertible Coupe by Murphy with a pre-sale estimate of $2,500,000 – $3,000,000.
Significant entries among the Packards on offer include; a 1934 Packard Twelve Sport Coupe by LeBaron, exhibited at the 1934 New York Auto Show (estimate $1,600,000 – $2,500,000); a Pebble Beach Best in Class winning 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich (estimate $1,200,000 – $1,600,000); and a 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich, one of just five known survivors (estimate $2,400,000 – $3,000,000).
Topping the hot rod inventory is the iconic 1932 Ford Lakes Roadster Custom that clocked 141.05 mph at El Mirage Dry Lake in 1949 (estimate $300,000 - $375,000.
Star attraction at Bonhams’ Greenwich sale is a supercharged 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Convertible with coachwork by Gangloff. The car was completed in October 1938 ready for delivery to its new owner Albert Brenac at a cost of 99,840 French Francs and has a complete provenance since that time. More recently, it formed part of the renowned collection of the Bugatti historian Miles Coverdale from 1957 until his death in 2000.
A 1949 Hudson Commodore Convertible with Hollywood history also goes under the hammer at Bonhams’ auction. One of the few surviving examples of the less than 600 Commodore Eight Convertibles produced, this Hudson was chosen to be the ride for Jack Nicholson's character J.J. "Jake" Gittes in the 1990 film The Two Jakes (estimate $45,000 – 55,000). Other notable highlights include a 1923 Duesenberg Model J Tourster (estimate $625,000 – 875,000), a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 Kombination Roadster (estimate $750,000 – 850,000) and a 1973 Porsche 911 RS 2.7 Touring with a pre-sale estimate of $550,000 – 700,000.