motor cars – eXtravaganzi

Double Le Mans-Winning Racing Team At Bonhams

1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Honeymoon Express Drophead Coupe in Monaco

The Collection of Karl Blade Featured at Arizona Auction

RM’s January auction in Arizona will feature 12 cars from the esteemed collection of Mr. Karl Blade. Mr. Blade is the owner of Newell Coach Corp., a leading manufacturer of luxury private motor coaches, and his passion for quality motor cars is reflected in this fine collection. It was assembled over the last 10 years from his own personal bucket list of cars he decided that he simply must own. The emphasis centers on American luxury convertibles of the 1950s, with a few deviations that provide some variety.

1934 Lincoln Model KB Convertible Roadster

Each vehicle in the collection reflects a careful balance between pristine cosmetics and driving enjoyment. While each is a high-point car, none is a trailer queen, and all have benefited from regular maintenance. From a 1934 Lincoln KB to a modern 2007 Aston Martin DB9 Volante, each car is worthy of close attention. Held annually at the beautiful and majestic Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, RM Auctions’ Arizona auction is one of the premier events on the collector car calendar, attracting enthusiasts and collectors from around the world to Phoenix each January. In all, the event will see approximately 150 vehicles cross the auction block on January 19-20, 2012. [RM Auctions]

1937 Frazer-Nash BMW 328 Roadster to Fetch Around $800,000

RM Auctions Special Mercedes-Benz Offering in Monterey

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen

Mercedes-Benz has accomplished a great deal in the last 125 years, both on and off the track. To celebrate this glorious heritage, RM Auctions is delighted to present an outstanding selection of motor cars at Monterey auction next week, spanning the company’s entire history from a replica of the original Benz Patent three-wheeler to the modern SLR McLaren. Also of note, two 300 SL Gullwing Coupes—a 1955 and a 1957—a 300SL Roadster, a 1971 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, 230SL, a 1935 290 Cabriolet D and a fantastic 1924 Mercedes 28/95 Sport Phaeton. Of particular interest, however, are the five supercharged eight-cylinder cars, each offered from prominent private collections. The long-tail, high door 1937 540 K Spezial Roadster is offered from the distinguished collection of Sam and Emily Mann, while the Lyon Family Collection in California brings a 1939 540 K Spezial Roadster, a 500 K Roadster and a 540 K Spezial Coupe. Finally, there is the 540 K Sport Cabriolet A, a unique and rare transitional model. Each of these five cars was personally inspected by experts from Mercedes-Benz Classic in Germany, and the findings of their visits are included in the auction catalog.

RM Auctions and Sotheby’s Presents the Renowned Milhous Collection

The Milhous Collection

Sale features an unprecedented selection of motor cars, mechanical musical instruments and collectibles meticulously assembled over five decades

(Press Release – BLENHEIM, Ontario, July 19, 2011) – Continuing its reputation as the specialists for private and estate collection sales, RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house, will lift the gavel on the renowned Milhous Collection during a multi-day sale near Palm Beach, Florida, February 2012. Featuring an unprecedented collection of automobiles, mechanical musical instruments and collectibles, the sale will be presented in association with Sotheby’s with whom RM Auctions has collaborated in the past. RM is honored to have been selected by the Milhous brothers to represent their collection at auction. I’ve known Bob and Paul Milhous for many years and their museum is one of the finest private displays I have ever seen. Those that have had the privilege to tour the collection over the years can attest to its incredible significance, extraordinary quality and presentation, says Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder, RM Auctions. It is always a pleasure to work with the Sotheby’s team and we look forward to joining forces with them once again to present this magnificent collection, Myers adds. David Redden, Vice Chairman of Sotheby’s adds, Personal, whimsical, brilliant, the Milhous Collection is a whirling circus of magical music-making machines, gleaming motor cars and the beloved paraphernalia of small town life in olden days. Who could visit this collection without being amazed, enchanted and suddenly very happy?

The Milhous Collection

Carefully amassed over the past fifty years by brothers Bob and Paul Milhous, the Milhous Collection reflects a lifelong interest and fascination in mechanicals, from automobiles to an impressive range of mechanical musical instruments. It also reflects the brothers’ meticulous collecting philosophy; items were handpicked from around the world, with an emphasis on the rarest and most desirable examples produced by the industry’s most prominent names. Now, after five decades of welcoming countless visitors to tour their impressive private museum, the Milhous brothers prepare to share the joy the collection has brought them over the years with other passionate collectors. Among a long list of highlights poised for the auction podium – a superb gathering of automobiles, ranging from high-horsepower Brass era cars, coachbuilt classics and historically-significant Indianapolis racing cars, and, an unprecedented selection of mechanical musical instruments, highlighted by the world’s most desirable and exceptional theatre, fair and dance organs. Collectors with a penchant for music will also be treated to one of the largest compilations of major orchestrion pieces ever to be offered at auction, joined by a world-class selection of historic music boxes. The impressive offering is rounded out by an eclectic assortment of other collectibles, ranging from ornate hall and tower clocks to such decorative art pieces as Tiffany lamps and various artworks, as well as a diverse series of petroliana, neon and porcelain signs, unique gasoline-powered tether cars and models, and a large range of firearms from the late 19th century.

The Milhous Collection

A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen to be Sold by RM Auctions in Monterey

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen

Shining stars grace gala at new Mercedes-Benz Manhattan flagship store

The Evening’s Most Exclusive Accessory: A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster (Montvale N.J., June 22, 2011) – The new Mercedes-Benz Manhattan dealership hosted its gala opening last night and amongst the shining stars and VIPs pulsing around the 330,000 square foot flagship store was one of the most expensive Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the world that can’t be purchased at the dealership, but rather through RM Auctions during this year’s Pebble Beach Motoring Week in August. If guests weren’t buzzing about celebrities in attendance or Matchbox 20 playing a private concert, or food inspired by Executive Chef Gabriel Kreuther of the Modern, it was definitely the 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster – chassis number 154140 – part of the esteemed private collection of Sam and Emily Mann. A star consignment for RM’s annual Monterey sale, August 19 – 20, the exquisite, multi-million dollar 1937 540K Special Roadster is expected to set a new auction record for a Mercedes-Benz, as well as enter the history books as one of the most expensive motor cars ever sold at auction when it goes under the gavel this summer.

RM Aauctions Achieves over €23 Million in Two Hours at Debut Sale at the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este

Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este

RM Auctions posts over €23 million in sales during two hours of furious bidding at its inaugural sale at the world-renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
Six automobiles fetch over €1 million, with two lots surpassing €3 million
Top-sellers: 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta achieves €3.36 million and an exquisite 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupé brings over €3.1 million
Bertone S.p.A Collection exceeds all expectations, resulting in €3.6 million in total sales

CERNOBBIO, Italy (24 May, 2011) – RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, kicked off its 2011 European calendar in style on the weekend, posting over €23 million ($33,436,750) at its debut sale at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, Italy. Held in conjunction with the celebrated Italian concorso d’eleganza, the two-hour sale treated a discerning international audience to one of the most significant offerings of collector cars presented in recent auction history, including the highly-anticipated sale of six unique Bertone concept cars. Featuring a handpicked selection of 32 motor cars, six automobiles achieved individual million-euro-plus results, with two lots surpassing €3 million. Top sale honours went to a stunning 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta for €3,360,000, along with a breathtaking, concours-quality 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupé which sold for €3,136,000

Vintage Cars at RM’s Amelia Island Auction Live

RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, is set to continue its strong track record in Florida, March 12, when it returns to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel for its annual Amelia Island sale. Now in its 13th year, the well-established auction will showcase over 100 quality motor cars, spanning a century of automotive design, from a wonderful series of early Brass Era cars to elegantly styled British and American road and racing cars and European sports cars. Reflecting the international flavor of consignments, notable early entries include: an ultra-rare 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Open Drive Landaulette; a superbly-restored 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe with Murphy Coachwork (J331); and an elegant 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Leger “Special Sport” Roadster.

Elvis Presley’s Mercedes-Benz 600 Set for Bonhams’ Sale of Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia

Elvis Presley is well known for his luxury lifestyle, which included his passion for collecting luxury cars. The Elvis was estimated to own more than 200 vehicles during his lifetime, including some of the most famous vehicles of all time, one of which is now up for grabs.

Elvis Presley’s Mercedes-Benz 600 A Mercedes-Benz 600, once owned by King of Rocks, will be auctioned at Bonhams’ traditional end of year sale of Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia on 6 December, which this year takes place at new venue, Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey. According to Bonhams auction house, the car, which is restored to a very high standard, and one of only a handful of cars that Presley registered in his name. Presley kept the car, which was one of two 600 Mercedes he owned, for two years before giving it to a friend, James Leroy Robertson. It was purchased by the vendor in 2005 from Robertson Motors Memphis in the United Sates and exported to the UK.