AMERICAN CLASSICS FROM THE MOTOR CITY: RM AUCTIONS TO PRESENT THE ED MEURER COLLECTION AT AUBURN FALL SALE

AMERICAN CLASSICS FROM THE MOTOR CITY:
RM AUCTIONS TO PRESENT THE ED MEURER COLLECTION AT AUBURN FALL SALE

MORE THAN 90 MOTOR CARS AND AN ARRAY OF PARTS AND MEMORABILIA OFFERED ALMOST ENTIRELY WITHOUT RESERVE

• RM Auctions set to offer The Ed Meurer Collection at Auburn Fall auction, 29 August - 1 September in Indiana
• Offered almost entirely without reserve, the collection comprises over 90 diverse pre- and post-war classics
• Auburn Fall set to present more than 700 quality collector cars, wide selection of automobilia, onsite swap meet, car corral, and automotive activities for the entire family
• Additional event information and updated list of cars available at rmsothebys.com

 RM Auctions is delighted to announce that it will present The Ed Meurer Collection of Detroit, Michigan, almost entirely without reserve, at its annual Auburn Fall sale, held on Thursday, 29 August – Sunday, 1 September during the renowned Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, with the collection crossing the block during the Friday sale session. 

Ed Meurer, Jr. bought his first classic car, a worn and paint-chipped 1936 Ford Cabriolet, in 1958 and meticulously restored it over four years to Concours condition. It was the acquisition and successful restoration of this car that ignited his passion and led him to begin collecting Fords of the 1930s, which he admired in his youth, and later expanded his collection to comprise a range of classics, with marques including Cadillac, Buick, Chrysler, Packard, Nash cars, Studebaker, and Jaguar.

In 2001, Ed built an extension to his publishing company in Metro Detroit large enough to house his entire collection of antique vehicles and memorabilia, inadvertently becoming the fifth largest private collector car museum in Michigan. By 2015 his collection had expanded to more than 90 motor cars, consisting largely of fine American classics spanning the 1930s to 1980s, and 4,000 sq. ft. of memorabilia, including vintage neon signs, gas pumps, and rare automobile parts. Well known and respected in hobby circles, Ed's garage became a must-see destination for dozens of car clubs wishing to marvel at his eclectic car collection.

Offered publicly for the very first time, The Ed Meurer Collection represents over 60 years of passion. Standouts within the collection include two rarities boasting unique histories, the 1938 Chrysler Custom Limousine by LeBaron and the 1958 Imperial Crown Limousine by Ghia. Powered by an inline eight-cylinder engine married to a manual transmission, the Chrysler Limousine was ordered new by Joseph P. Kennedy, father of President John F. Kennedy, and used in London between 1938 and 1940 while he served as U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain. Fitted with a host of exterior and interior options and finished in attractive dark green, the custom limo would shine in any American classics or pre-war motor car collection. One of only 31 built, the 1958 Imperial Crown Limousine by Ghia is believed to have been purchased new by the prominent Eaton family of Toronto, owners of Eaton’s department store chain. Personal friends of the British royal family, the Eatons often hosted Queen Elizabeth II on her visits to North America. It’s understood the family loaned the Queen and her staff two cars during her trip to Canada in 1959. This car is believed to be one of the two, primarily used for the evening and more formal events. Purchased by Ed Meurer in the early 1990s, the car has since been beautifully restored and is one of the finest examples in existence.

Other highlights comprise a 1935 Packard Twelve Convertible with stunning coachwork by Rollston; incredible full classics, including a 1931 Auburn Phaeton, a 1937 Cord 812 Beverly, and a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Seven-Passenger Imperial Sedan; a 1956 Continental Mark II, one of the most expensive cars in its day; a beautiful group of Ford Woodie station wagons; and even Chrysler’s iconic, luxury letter car series.

After visiting The Ed Meurer Collection, Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s Group, said: “This collection is an incredible historical work built over more than six decades and featuring some of the finest American pre- and post-war cars. We’re thrilled to bring these important, interesting classics from such a renowned collector to Auburn Fall this year.”

Additional information on RM Auctions’ Auburn Fall sale is available at rmsothebys.com. A selection of cars from The Meurer Collection, including the 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible and the 1935 Packard Twelve Convertible will be available for advanced viewing at the 2019 Concours D'Elegance of America on 26-28 July at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan. To speak with an RM specialist or to register to bid at the Auburn Fall sale, please call +1 519 352 4575.

Visit: rmsothebys.com 

FROM MERCEDES-BENZ TO DUESENBERG, COLLECTOR CARS OF ALL KINDS SHINE AT RM AUCTIONS’ $21.7 MILLION AUBURN FALL SALE

FROM MERCEDES-BENZ TO DUESENBERG, COLLECTOR CARS OF ALL KINDS SHINE
AT RM AUCTIONS’ $21.7 MILLION AUBURN FALL SALE

• RM Auctions continues its Auburn Fall tradition with $21.7 million in total sales and 81 percent of all lots sold
• First-year Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster tops sales at $852,500 while ACD trio from Richard L. Burdick Collection brings strong results, led by 1929 Duesenberg Model J Sedan at $737,000
• Four days of auction action and family fun brings tens of thousands of enthusiasts to Auburn Auction Park
• Complete Auburn Fall results at rmsothebys.com
• The RM Sotheby’s Group continues its summer calendar with annual London auction, 5 September

AUBURN, Indiana (4 September 2018) – RM Auctions celebrated a now 48-year Labor Day tradition this past weekend with its annual Auburn Fall sale (30 August – 2 September) at the Auburn Auction Park in Indiana. The four days of spirited auction action resulted in $21.7 million in total sales, with a strong 81 percent of all lots sold, representing a 12 percent increase in sales over 2017.

Collectors and enthusiasts flooded the Auburn Auction Park to view the more than 700 cars on offer and activities for the entire family to enjoy, with record crowds across Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Bidders hailed from 14 countries and 45 states across the U.S., with more than 30 percent representing first-time RM Auctions clientele.

The top sale of the auction was the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, a first-year example which sold for a final $852,500 just after it crossed the block. The result was closely followed by motor cars from the highly-anticipated Richard L. Burdick Collection, most notably by the 1929 Duesenberg Model J Sedan with period coachwork by Derham/Bohman & Schwartz, which incited a bidding competition between bidders in the room and on the phone before selling for a final $737,000 to a private onsite bidder. The 1929 Auburn 120 Eight Speedster from the collection also saw significant interest, achieving a final $330,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $150k-$200k. Rounding out the ACD trio offered from the collection, the 1930 Cord L-29 Cabriolet exceeded high estimate at $165,000. Additional cars from the Burdick Collection will be offered at RM Sotheby’s Group events across 2018 and 2019.

“It was a fantastic weekend for enthusiasts of all ages in Auburn, and we were thrilled to build on a tradition that brought tens of thousands to the Classic Car Capital of America,” said Gord Duff, Global Head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s Group. “The auction arena was packed on numerous occasions throughout the weekend, and we saw an increase in sales with fewer vehicles, and a clear increase in the quality of our consignments over last year. We also received great feedback from both buyers and sellers on the change to single-ring auction style, which proved successful in drawing more bidders to each car offered. Our top five Auburn Fall sales demonstrate the success of numerous categories of collector cars in Auburn, from American Classics through European sports cars and modern performance.We look forward to continuing the tradition next year.”

RM Auctions also saw strong results for additional vehicles offered from private collections at Auburn Fall, including for a 2006 Ford GT displaying only 4.4 miles, which sold for a final $357,500 to cheers from the crowd. The Shrine of the Holy Grille Collection, which featured one of the most comprehensive groups of Edsel motor cars in the world, also drew strong interest on Friday, with record prices for the marque achieved. Meanwhile, the 1976 Ford Escort 1100 GL Sedan formerly owned by Saint Pope John Paul II saw interest from collectors both in the room and on the phone, eventually bringing a final $121,000 with proceeds to benefit the O’Quinn Foundation

Auburn continues to be a strong venue for not only American collectibles, but also European classics and exotics. Just a few lots after the 1970 Plymouth Superbird achieved an above-estimate $173,250 on Saturday, a 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster brought in $222,750, nearly hitting its high estimate. Earlier in the sale, spirited bidding in the room brought a professionally restored 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre Roadster to a final price of $148,500.

RM Auctions Auburn Fall Top Five Sales

Lot 3093	1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster	$852,500
Lot 3161	1929 Duesenberg Model J Sedan	$737,000
Lot 3130	1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider Conversion	$442,750
Lot 3079	2006 Ford GT	$357,500
Lot 3160	1929 Auburn 120 Eight Speedster	$330,000

The RM Sotheby’s Group continues its calendar this week with the company’s 12^th annual London sale, set for 5 September at Battersea Evolution and featuring the 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT driven by legendary actor Peter Sellers in the 1963 film, “The Wrong Arm of the Law”. Looking ahead to fall, all roads lead to Pennsylvania where RM Auctions will return for its annual Hershey sale, 11-12 October, a featured attraction of the AACA Eastern Fall Meet and a proven venue for the sale of important Brass and Classic Era automobiles. Learn more about upcoming events at rmsothebys.com.

Full results from Auburn Fall are also available at rmsothebys.com.