The RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection auction was held May 2, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas, resulting in $53,887,585 in total sales and 100 percent of all lots sold. The single-day, single-vendor sale featured a 78 vehicles along with an assortment of memorabilia, all offered without reserve.
Strong results were recorded across all categories in the Paul and Chris Andrews Collection auction, which was staged as part of an effort to pare down the collection to a more manageable size. There were multiple spirited bidding contests and prices frequently exceeded their estimates. Bidders hailed from 16 countries, with one-third representing first-time clientele.
“It has been an absolute honor to work with Paul, Chris and their team, and to add the Andrews Collection to our portfolio of successful single-vendor sales,” said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director of RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “Paul and Chris have been such strong mainstays in the classic car industry over the past 15 years, and to see their extraordinary efforts and commitment to preserving automotive history rewarded with such fantastic results is hugely gratifying. The sale attracted tremendous interest from around the world, with 33 percent of bidders new to RM Sotheby’s. There is certainly no better introduction to the exciting world of collector cars than through the incredible offerings of the Andrews Collection.”
Top sale honors at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection auction went to the sale’s cover car – the covered headlight 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet, chassis no. 3309 SA, which led a string of 16 individual million-dollar-plus sales. The last of seven examples bodied by Pininfarina, the Superamerica sparked a bidding contest in the room and on the phones, before eventually selling for $7,645,000; the result represents a new record for a the model at auction.
The seven-hour sale also established a new auction benchmark for American Classics, with a number of coachbuilt examples exceeding pre-sale expectations. Highlighting this segment was the 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich, chassis no. 901968, which soared past its high estimate to achieve $4,180,000 – a new world record for a Packard sold at auction. A 1938 Packard Eight Cabriolet with one-off coachwork by Graber was also hotly contested, selling for $1,760,000.
In addition to the Packards, Duesenbergs also achieved success, headlined by the sale of the ‘Ethel Mars’ 1935 Model SJ Town Car, J-553, for $3,630,000. A restored 1931 Model J ‘Disappearing To’ Convertible Coupe, J-395, also drew bids, selling for an above-estimate $3,520,000. Other notable sales included a 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe for $1,320,000 and a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan for $1,925,000.
Kelleher added, “At a time when Ferraris and post-war European sports and GT cars have dominated the classic car market, it is fabulous to see blue-chip American Classics enjoy the spotlight. The results speak for themselves and reflect the incredible quality of the Andrews Collection as a whole.”
Additional highlights from the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection include:
- Matching-numbers 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster exceeded estimate at $1,842,500;
- 1956 Ford F-100 Custom, commissioned for hot rod and racing enthusiast, Joe MacPherson, achieved $374,000;
- 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray ‘Split Window’ Coupe realized $253,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $80,000 – $110,000;
- 2011 Custom Electric Motorcycle, a fully functioning recreation of the Tron: Legacy Motorcycle raced past its high-estimate at $77,000; and,
- Select memorabilia highlights, including a Mercedes-Benz SSK Model for $52,900, and the ‘Pig Sandwich’ Neon Sign for $36,800, both achieved results well above expectations.
“The RM Sotheby’s team comprises a great group of professionals, and it has been a wonderful experience working with them over the past eight months,” said Paul Andrews following the sale. “From the cataloguing process to their global marketing, PR and client outreach, and onsite logistics and presentation, they exceeded our expectations at every step of the process, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Chris Andrews added, “The RM Sotheby’s team has truly become an extended part of our family. In our minds, there is no one else who could’ve done such a great job and achieved such terrific results. Their attention to detail is second to none.”
RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection – Top Fifteen Auction Results
1. 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet – $7,645,000
2. 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe – $4,180,000
3. 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car – $3,630,000
4. 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Convertible Coupe – $3,520,000
5. 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico – $2,860,000
6. 1934 Packard Twelve Sport Coupe – $2,200,000
7. 1962 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra – $1,980,000
8. 1930 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan – $1,925,000
9. 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster – $1,842,500
10. 1938 Packard Eight Cabriolet – $1,760,000
11. 1962 Chevrolet Corvette “Gulf Oil” Race Car – $1,650,000
12. 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe – $1,320,000
13. 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe – $1,320,000
14. 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study – $1,210,000
15. 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon- $1,127,500
16. 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan – $1,045,000
For complete auction results, visit www.rmauctions.com.
RM Sotheby’s continues its 2015 calendar, May 23 with its Villa Erba sale on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. The official auction of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, this evening auction will lift the gavel on a roster of 37 vehicles and two Riva boats.
For more information on upcoming events, including the Villa Erba digital catalogue, visit www.rmauctions.com or call +1 519 352 4575.
[Source: RM Auctions]
I don’t have the spirit to attend an auction!