Part 3
It was now time to leave the main showroom to concentrate on what RM had chosen to be the main featured lot of the sale, placed in another part of the Panther Auto City building where the sale was organized. The Andrews family had let some of their personal automobilia and art still on show, and it was a true privilege to be able to admire such items, including this Razzia poster of the Bugatti Atlantic. Speaking of Bugatti, one of the other automobilia lots that caught my attention was lot 105, a wall hanging Type 35 and typical horse grille of the french manufacturer which was sold for 6’900 $.
Back to cars, I stumbled across the 1910 Pierce-Arrow 48-SS Demi-Tonneau. This perfect example of the Brass-Era car, typical with its brass radiators and lamps, is the only remaining Demi-Tonneau body of the brand in existence, known for its more sporty look and five-passenger seating. The 48-SS was equipped with a 545 cubic inches six cylinder engine developping 48 horsepower and was sold for 852’500 $.
One of the main lots of the sale and probably the one which RM Auctions had decided to feature the most was lot 244, a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupé by Murphy, just like Clark Gable drove. This particular model of the Andrews family still retained its original engine, chassis and bodywork, while still being in an amazing state.
The presence of these Duesenbergs is breathtaking, just like their price. They are imposant, sporty, and yet extremely elegant at the same time. You just have to look at them to understand the genius of Walter Murphy, with the perfect and subtle dose of chromes, details to form this almost perfect shape. Lot 244 was sold to its next owner for a final price of 3.52 million $, more than half a million over its high estimation.
The Andrews family was proposing throughout RM Auctions what was probably one of the best pair of sixties Ferraris combination. Two Ferrari 400 Superamerica were offered, a Long Wheel Base Coupé, lot 196, and a Short Wheel Base Cabriolet, lot 222. Starting with the Coupé, and knowing that 400 Superamerica have never been too much a car that attracted me, preferring the original 1955 410 Superamerica. Why, you might ask ? Well, first of all there is the sheer design of the Coupé Aerodinamico, its plunging tail, its front that I do in fact find ugly… I do think as well that it looks a bit disproportionate in a way. Nevertheless, as it was in fact the first I saw “in the flesh” I was really happy and appreciated that it had been restored to its original colors. Lot 196 was sold for 2.86 million $, way under its estimated prices between 3.5 and 4.5 million $.
Stepping to the convertible I was surprised of how much I preferred it to the Coupé. Probably due to the fact it was a Short Wheel Base instead of a Long Wheel Base, making it look less disproportionate, more compact, than its Coupé Sister. Although its front look is very similar to the Coupé Aerodinamico, the rear tail is much more beautiful in my opinion, because it does less cut the original like of the hood.
Another reason why I found the Andrews Convertible much more attractive than their Coupé was the general color combination of color, a beautiful Nero over red leather interior. Moreover, this 1962 400 SWB Superamerica Convertible had been the Geneva and New York Auto Show of the year, and had been raced on the Salt Lakes in Bonneville. Lot 222 was sold for 7.645 million $.
Next up I focused on the pale yellow 1935 Cadillac V-16 Imperial Convertible Sedan with coachwork by Fleetwood, one of six ever built. Lot 245 had just undergone a restoration and was originally built for the Lilly family. It was awarded a final price tag of 605’000 $. Alongside was a dark brown 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan with bodywork by Dietrich, which had won the Best In Class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and had undergone a perfect restoration just like the Cadillac. It was sold for 1.045 million $.
The other very desirable convertible of the Andrews collection besides the Ferrari Superamerica Short Wheel Base Convertible was lot 194, the 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupé with coachwork by Bertone. Built for Charles Ward, president of Brown & Bigelow, former calendar manufacturer, by its 60 regional sales manager, this bespoke italian-bodied Aston Martin is one of only two ever produced and featured several special extras such as picnic accessories, and complete luggage set. Lot 194 was sold 1.32 million $.
Although one might argue that Giovanni Michelotti’s design was pure genious, looking at what Franco Scaglione accomplished a year later with the three DB2/4 Spiders, I have to admit that suddenly the Drophead Coupé looks still good but less charming than its younger model. While the Drophead Coupé feels more like an imposant Grand Tourer while the Spider looks like a nimble sports car. The difference as well between the two resides in the fact the Spider has less details, and is more concentrated on the simplicity of its shape.
Looking almost like a 1930s gentleman Batmobile, thanks its dark black exterior color, the 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Towncar was the true one-off to look at of the Andrews collection, with its Bohman & Schwartz bodywork. This very imposant “Coupé de Ville” was truely amazing, because in the contrary of the other Duesenberg Model J of the sale, you had to search for the details, the black paint hiding them. Lot 231 was awarded a final price by Max Girardo of 3.63 million $. Then, looking back again, I encoutered the lot 218, the ex-Joe Morgan 1957 Dual Ghia Convertible, showing off its engine and extraordinary restoration it had undergone, before it was sold for 429’000 $.
Becoming more and more a classic car collector essential, the Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon is probably one of the most desirable Coupés of the brand. With its imposant, and yet typically British elegant coachwork by Mulliner, it is as well one of the best Grand Tourers is the world, without a doubt. Reliable, powerful, and comfortable, this particular model owned by the Andrews family was one of the best R-Type Continental I had ever encountered, with all the desirable options, a factory original left-hand drive, with the lightweight seats, the big 4.9 litre engine, and the lot in a beautiful dark green over red leather interior. Lot 208 was sold for 1’127’500 $.
If you were searching for more than simply a chassis of a Marmon Sixteen, like the Andrews offered on this sale, and that I had seen at the beginning of my viewing tour, Rob Myer’s auction house featured as well a complete example of this car, in its extremely desirable Convertible Coupé with coachwork by Lebaron. Being perfect examples of the pre-war american automotive industry, more exclusive and less known than Duesenbergs, this particular example, lot 200 had been restored by expert harry Sherry and was awarded to its next owner for a price tag of 1.32 million $, almost 50% more than its high estimation. Apart from the Fleetwood V-16, Chris and Paul Andrews were proposing a second Cadillac V-16 for sale, lot 230, a red and black Convertible Sedan by Murphy, which just like the Duesenberg SJ Town Car was a one-off coachwork. Looking at the other Murphy coachwork across the room, with the Duesenberg J Disappearing Top, I really measured the genius of the man. Lot 230 was sold for a final price of 1.925 million $, more than half a million over its high estimation. Last of the line-up and last of its production was ex-King Hussein’s 1938 Lincoln Model K Coupé with coachwork by LeBaron, lot 198 which was sold for 231’000 $.
The big sale surprise of RM Andrews collection auction came from lot 233. This 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupé overpassed its high estimation of more than one million dollar. This Pebble Beach Best In Class Winner, was one of only five survivors by the desirable Dietrich coachwork and was awarded a final price of 4.18 million $ under the applause of the public. The fourth and last Packard Twelve of the sale was the 1934 New York Auto Show Car from the american manufacturer, a 1934 Sport Coupé with coachwork by LeBaron and which featured a unique styling. Lot 221 was sold for 2.2 million $. The last but not least Packard of proposed by the Andrews family was a 1938 Packard Eight Cabriolet. And the thing that made me happy about it was that its bodywork was from… Switzerland, my home. Hermann Graber had indeed done the coachwork of this 1938 Geneva Motorshow car, which had as well won the Best In Class Award at Pebble Beach.
In the few last remaining lots were a 2011 Custom Electric Motorcycle, fully functionnal and which looked like being inspired from the famous Tron movie, it was sold for an amazing 77’000 $ price tag, almost the twice as its high estimation. Alongside was a 1956 Austin-Healey 100 M, one of the 640 factory “Le-Mans” cars, which was awarded by auctioneer Max Girardo a final price of 170’500 $. The last small British sports car of the sale, besides the MG TF-1500 and the Austin-Healey was this light blue racing MG MGB Lightweight, a car that finished fourth in class at the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race. Lot 220 was sold for 88’000 $.
The Andrews family was offering during this sale two formula styled racing cars. The first one, in its dark blue color was lot 223, a 1960 Watson Indianapolis Roadster, which had entered the Indianapolis 500 three times, and that I found absolutely amazing with loads of very desirable details. It was sold for 577’500 $. The second one was a 1963 Meskowski Sheraton-Thompson Dirt Championship car which had won two times the United States Auto Club National Championship, and was sold for 577’500 $, just like its older Indianapolis sister. What a coincidence !
Finally, it was time to go. I had seen all the cars, and the preview was about to close. While on the way out, two final lots managed to catch my attention. The first one was Keith Collins tapestry of Clark Gable’s Duesenberg Model Disappearing Top by Murphy, one of the automobilia lots sold during this RM Auction for a final price of 19’550 $. The second one was just before the exit, was a perfect beach car, lot 247 was a 1960 Fiat 500 Jolly by Ghia which was awarded a final price of 77’000 $. It made me smile because I couldn’t help thinking what beach around Dallas or Fort Worth could Chris or Paul Andrews go with such a ravishing car ? Grapevine Mills ? Lewisville ? Who knows…
So did this visit helped me to clarify why did the Andrews family sold such jewels of their automobile collection ? No, but I would really like to thanks Sotheby’s RM Auctions for organizing such an event, keeping the cars in the Andrews collection for the sale, and allowing us to visit such a beautiful place in Panther City Auto, Fort Worth.