RM Auctions staged its Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s sale on July 28, 2012 in Plymouth, Michigan, resulting in more than $6.8 million in total sales and an 82% sell-through rate.
Top result at the 2012 RM Auctions St. John’s sale went to a 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Victoria, J272, formerly owned by noted band leader Paul Whiteman of “Rhapsody in Blue” fame, that sold for $957,000 before the packed house. One of just 16 examples bodied with convertible Victoria coachwork by Rollston, the Duesenberg led a group of American classics at the single-day sale, held in conjunction with the 2012 Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s. In total, the three-and-a-half hour auction lifted the gavel on a total of 74 automobiles.
“RM Auctions is proud of our association with the Concours d’Elegance of America and to be the longest running sponsor of the event. Once again, this weekend’s event provided a wonderful celebration of the America’s rich automotive history and the passion that drives the collector car hobby. We are pleased with the results from our sale and look forward to building on them at our Aalholm and Monterey events in the coming weeks,” said Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder, RM Auctions.
In addition to the Duesenberg, other American classics achieving strong results were a 1933 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe, believed to be the last 1933 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe produced for $385,000, and the 1928 Cadillac V-8 “Al Capone” Town Sedan, one of the earliest surviving ‘bulletproof’ vehicles for $341,000.
The 2012 RM Auctions St. John’s auction also presented a selection of 15 automobiles from the collection of William Ruger Jr. Headlined by a 1937 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster for $352,000, the collection achieved a total $1.8 million. Other notable sales from the Ruger Collection included a 1925 Ahrens-Fox N-S-4 Triple Combination Pumper for $198,000, and a 1911 Stanley Model 63 Toy Tonneau for $165,000.
“We were honored to have been chosen to represent the Ruger Collection at our St. John’s sale and extend our thanks to Mr. Ruger for putting his trust in RM,” added Mike Fairbairn, Co-Founder, RM Auctions.
The sale also included a series of early electric cars, including a 1914 Detroit Electric Model 46 Cape Top Roadster which sold for $99,000.
RM Auctions at St. John’s 2012 – Top Ten Auction Results
1. 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Victoria – $957,000
2. 1933 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe – $385,000
3. 1931 Cord L-29 La Grand Boattail Speedster Recreation – $368,500
4. 1937 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster – $352,000
5. 1928 Cadillac V-8 “Al Capone” Town Sedan – $341,000
6. 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria – $275,000
7. 1936 Cadillac V-16 Town Sedan – $247,500
8. 1925 Ahrens-Fox N-S-4 Triple Combination Pumper – $198,000
9. 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sport Saloon – $192,500
10. 2005 Ford GT – $170,500
(See RM Auctions at St. John’s 2012 – Complete Auction Results)
RM Auctions continues its summer events calendar, August 12 in Southern Denmark with the Aalholm Automobile Collection, closely followed by the company’s Monterey sale, August 17-18 in Monterey, California. Full event details, including digital catalogues for both events, are available at www.rmauctions.com.
[Source: RM Auctions; photo: Stephen Goodal © 2012 courtesy RM Auctions]
