October 2024 - US auction previews
25 September, 2024
A vast collection of cars, parts and memorabilia put together by Rudi Klein at his Los Angeles junkyard over a period of four decades will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s from 26 October, with the entire collection offered at no reserve. While Porsche 911s and 356s dominate the catalogue, the star is a unique 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Special Coupe, built for Mercedes’ racing driver Rudi Caracciola. Estimated at $4,000,000 – 6,000,000, it has seen little use since joining Klein’s collection in 1979, stored in a shed away from prying eyes for the majority of its life.
Other headline cars include a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing – one of only 29 alloy-bodied examples – purchased by Klein from its original owner Luigi Chinetti in 1976 (estimate $4,500,000 – 6,000,000); a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, with matching-numbers engine and body (estimate $800,000 – 1,000,000); three Lamborghini Miuras with estimates ranging from $350,000 – 700,000); and the sole-surviving 1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster which is guided at $3,000,000 – 4,000,000.
Bonhams returns to the Audrain Concours on 4 October with a line-up headed by a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, part of the world-famous Mullin Collection from 1991 until Peter Mullin’s recent passing (estimate $1,200,000 – 1,400,000). Bonhams’ 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500, an extremely rare sight in the US, is a three-owner car with 48,300 miles (estimate $160,000 – 220,000), while a similarly well-cared-for 12,000-mile 2002 BMW Z8 has been guided at the same level.
[ Bonhams’ Audrain Concours Sale – auction catalogue here ]
Broad Arrow Auctions adds a new sale to its roster with The Chattanooga Auction taking place during the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival on 12 October when more than 90 cars are slated to cross the block. Highlights among the limited-production 911s on offer include a 5,209-km 1984 SC RS, the last of 21 built for Group B rally homologation, it’s the Holy Grail for collectors searching for the ultimate road-legal RS (estimate $2,600,000 – 3,500,000); a 4,500-mile 2018 GT2 RS Weissach Package (estimate $425,000 – 475,000); and a 2023 Dakar, barely-used with just 141 miles (estimate $325,000 – 375,000).
Classic car auction price estimates for: Mercedes-Benz | Lamborghini | Horch | Ford | BMW | Porsche
From leading auction houses: RM Sotheby’s | Bonhams|Cars | Broad Arrow Auctions
Read through the rest of our classic car previews for more information about our auction collections. Check out our online resource for upcoming classic car auction events and classic car auction results around the world.