There are places we know, or hear mentioned, but rarely if ever see. Places like Caruso’s on Long Island, the legendary A.K. Miller in Vermont, even Austie Clark’s museum (as much storage yard as museum.) Every once in a while, usually part of an end-of-life event, they surface and are dispersed in a flash of glory that sets at least a point-in-time record of the collector and the collection.
Such an event was RM Sotheby’s sale of the Rudi Klein Collection on-site in Los Angeles October 26-28, 2024. As cataloged for the auction (two days of dry, dusty, rusty parts and smashed mostly Porsche auto hulks online and a day of live auction of more parts but more notably a few promising, if old and rare, cars. All were, for good reason, offered without reserve.
The location was Rudi’s stash, a movie set quality treasure trove of rare (and not-so-rare) stuff accumulated over decades hiding behind banged-together corrugated iron sheet fencing on Alameda Street in the center of L.A. It was a true salvage yard with parts and partial cars surrounded by and housed within a bastion made of salvaged material.
And then it all opened up, like a treasure cave. Most of it, to be sure, was worth little. The legend of lifetime preservation in the coastal desert of L.A. were proved wrong again and again. Six items including five crunched cars with VINs sold for <$100. Chance of a lifetime, a Bentley T1 Saloon that had an engine and was recognizable as a car changed hands for only $11. Here it is in all its glory
Hard to believe in the L.A. desert, there was plenty of real old rust. But there was more sun damage and a coating of the dust and grime of years of Santa Ana winds and outside storage.
The (relatively) good cars were sold in a live auction on the 26th. Rudi Klein had acquired and stashed away in good condition a roster of valuable, rare vehicles. Most notable was the heavily promoted 1956 Alloy Gullwing that sold for $9,350,000. The most exceptional was the ’35 500K Special Coupe built for Mercedes-Benz’s championship winning driver, Rudolf Caracciola.
In all, over the three days, 195 lots brought a total of $29,658,786, with seven lots realizing hammer bids >$1 million and a total of $22,337,500 all-in (75% of the sale total). The average transaction was a tidy $152,096. But the “salvage” component was dominant, with the median transaction (half sold for more, half for less) being only $6,440.
Here are the numbers:
| Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 195/195 | 100% | N/A | N/A | $152,096 | $6,440
[4.2%] |
$29,658,785 |
34 of the lots more recognizable as vehicles are reported here based upon RM Sotheby’s online descriptions and photographs. Photos are courtesy of RM Sotheby’s. Individual photographers and copyright holders are noted in the photo metadata.
Lot # 265 1960 Porsche 356B 1600 S Roadster, Body by Drauz; S/N 88643; Blue/Grey; Black top; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unrestored original 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $70,000. – Crashed front end, no bumpers, one seat, no engine or rear suspension, stripped of most chrome trim, wheels and lights. A realizable but epic reconstruction project that was over driven through the backroad twisties of southern California with unfortunate results. – More complete and salvageable than most of the Rudi Klein cars, but a fabulously expensive project starting at this investment.
Lot # 268 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 7921; Rosso Cina/None; No top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unrestored original 5- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $25,200. – 1/3 of a Ferrari missing the important parts forward of the firewall, the driveline and both doors. Picked over for trim bits, lighting and dashboard and little left along with not much resembling a 275 GTS. – Someone restoring a 275 GTS might covet a few original bits and pieces from this hulk, but that is a stretch at this price.
Lot # 270 1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cabriolet; S/N 11202310008500; Silver/Black; Black top; Estimate $2,000 – $3,000; Unrestored original 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $23,520. – 2,996/160hp, 4-speed. – There is an engine, but it has been picked over leaving the overhead camshaft and valves exposed to California dust. The body is mostly sound with lower body rust. Everything else is tattered and deteriorated. Exterior trim, grille and lights are picked over. – Someone saw either a magnificent restoration project to concours condition or a source for parts to complete (or maintain) a similar car. Considering that it might be worth $250K in concours condition the idea of restoration pales in comparison with being an expensive parts car, although the price indicates the successful (?) bidder sees value in the bits and pieces that remain.
Lot # 272 1969 Volkswagen Type 2 Single-Cab Pickup with 1968 Lamborghini Miura; S/N 269135247; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $56,000. One of Rudi Klein’s VW Transporter flatbeds, appropriately loaded with the front end of derelict 1968 Miura s/n 3646, a VW engine and a few other bits and pieces. No engine and generally scraped, chipped, peeling and rusty. – The other Type 2 flatbed, s/n 266001374, was similarly derelict and sold for $10,640 without the benefit of the 1/3 of a Miura that this one carried but the $40,000 difference is a generous value for the non-functional third of a Miura. Made to run and drive safely carrying the Miura front clip this will make an intriguing Rudi Klein collection display.
Lot # 275 1956 BMW 502 Marburg Coupe, Body by Autenrieth; S/N 59090; Engine # 20617; White/Blue leather; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $58,800. – 2,580 V-8, dual carburetors, 4-speed, sunroof. – Complete but aged and stored outside in L.A.’s dry climate but intense sunshine. Largely sound body with peeling paint, surface rust and curdled body rubber. Dirt covered old engine compartment. Tattered upholstery. Grille chrome and bumpers missing. – Upgraded 2-carburetor engine. This is one of the rare Rudi Klein collection cars, bought years ago and left to neglect in his collection without being picked over. As its result indicates, it was recognized for its rarity and unusual BMW V-8 configuration by the bidders here, a potentially rewarding but fabulously expensive restoration project.
Lot # 277 1968 Maserati Mistral 4.0 Coupe, Body by Frua; S/N AM109A11720; Engine # AM109A11720; Celeste Chiaro/Black leather; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $64,400. – 4,014/255hp, Lucas fuel injection, 5-speed, chrome spoke alloy wheels, power windows, Blaupunkt multi-band radio. – Crashed right front corner but otherwise largely complete and not picked over. Dull, oxidized, dirty original paint. Stuff, dirty upholstery and dashtop. Dirty but mostly intact engine compartment and represented as the numbers-matching engine. – More salvageable than most of the Rudi Klein junkyard dogs although it will be expensive to bring it back to life and then, it is back to being a fuel injected 4 litre Mistral that has been sitting since 1977, close enough to half a century not to make much difference. It is not a promising restoration project at this price, nor probably from this starting point at any price.
Lot # 278 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 15633; Engine # 00427; Blu Ribot/Black leather; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $106,400. – 4,390/320hp, 5-speed, power steering, air conditioning, power windows. – Front end crashed in 1977 and sold as salvage to Rudi Klein then for $10,000. Aside from losing its wheels, the hood panel and some nose parts damaged in the crash it is largely complete and sound. The paint is sun-bleached and everything is covered in southern California dust. The interior is stiff and tender. – C/4s have experienced a significant run up in value recently adding something like 20% just in the past three years. That makes this C/4 project somewhat more appealing as a project but not enough to make sense of the price it brought here.
Lot # 279 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 2000 GS Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 158478; Heron Grey/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $168,000. – Woodrim steering wheel, multi-band radio, annular disc brakes, replacement transaxle, no engine. – First owned by an heir to the Selzer company in Frankfurt, a Porsche supplier. Wrecked in the U.S. and sold to Rudi Klein. Picked over, filthy and crusted with grime, but largely complete (aside from that engine issue), dinged up but not seriously damaged aside from peeling paint, surface rust and general filth. – This Porsche could be a million-dollar car if it were concours restored and had its original engine. It won’t ever make that mark with a replacement engine, even the correct type, but it is still valuable enough to make paying this price for a derelict project worthwhile, and a lot better deal than many of the other abandoned, parted-out and filthy Klein cars.
Lot # 280 1967 Porsche 912 Soft-Window Targa; S/N 550364; Blood Orange/Grey cloth; Estimate $2,000 – $4,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $22,400. – Porsche woodrim steering wheel. steel wheels, hubcaps. – Heavily hit and torn panels on the left door and rear fender. Front bumper missing along with other bits and trim parts. No engine. Delaminating steering wheel wood. Filthy and dust covered. – There is a long time, a lot of hard work and parts chasing and many large checks to be written in between what changed hands here today and what the image is in the new owner’s mind. At this price there is about $80,000 left to finish it to concours standards and $80K won’t get even close to that goal.
Lot # 282 1938 Maybach SW38 Sport Cabriolet, Body by Spohn; S/N 2048; Engine # 11756; Adriatic Blue, Grey/Cranberry leather; Black top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $470,000 plus commission of 11.06%; Final Price $522,000. – 4,196/140hp, 4-speed pre-selector, dip beam light, Notek headlights, dual sidemounts, Becker Nurburg radio, manuals. – First owned by circus impresario Carl Krone, sold to Noel Thompson in the U.S. in the early 50’s. Maybach installed the 4.2 litre replacing the original SW38 3,790cc engine in the 50’s. Later long owned by Thomas H. Wilson II and acquired by Rudi Klein in 1987. Doesn’t appear to have turned a wheel since then but is sound and complete, if filthy dirty on the outside and under the hood. The upholstery, dashboard and interior trim are decent but aged. – The big straight eight Horch and M-Bs of the late Thirties are so universally renowned and frequently shown that this high quality Maybach has to try hard to get noticed, especially in this auction which featured examples of each including the Caracciola 500K Special Coupe. That makes this Maybach even more notable, however, for its preservation, quality and the body design and execution by Spohn. Fortunately the bidders here recognized it for what it was and put a generous price on it.
Lot # 283 1964 Iso Grifo A3/L Spider Prototype, Body by Bertone; S/N A3L420002; Red/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $1,000,000; Original, with major mechanical repairs 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,700,000 plus commission of 10.29%; Final Price $1,875,000. – 327/365hp, 4-speed, Blaupunkt multi-band radio, power antenna, woodrim steering wheel, luggage rack, alloy wheels. – One-off prototype, displayed by Bertone in auto shows when new, then sold to the U.S. where it was bought by TV producer and serial collector Greg Garrison from whom Rudi Klein bought it in 1980. Dirty, mildew stained upholstery and interior. Grubby engine compartment with peeling paint and falling hood blanket. Failing old repaint. The nose and grille have been superficially repaired and have lost the original A3 dual nostril configuration making it look somewhat like a Jensen. Long neglected but also verifiably unique with clear provenance. – 1980 was a mere 45 years ago and all of those years are still apparent on this one-off Grifo A3/L Spider Prototype. It is, however, undeniably unique. Gooding sold its sister prototype coupe s/n 420001 at Scottsdale in 2018 for $1,760,000 in good but far from pristine condition. RM sold s/n B0216 at Paris in 2015 for $1,182,905, then sold the same car at Paris in 2023 for $736,100. Then there’s B0209 with riveted body by Drogo that RM sold at Paris in 2018 for $2,425,498. The same car sold three years later at RM’s sale of the Jean Guikas collection in 2021 for $736,100 Those results strongly imply that Grifo A3C values are not trending up which makes this result for this flawed car with its awkwardly repaired nose a seriously strong price even though the Greg Garrison history is hard to minimize.
Lot # 284 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500173; Engine # 1989807500192; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,075,000 plus commission of 10.47%; Final Price $1,187,500. – 2,996/250hp, 4-speed, Rudge centerlock wheels – Represented as the matching numbers engine and rear axle and one of 30 delivered with Rudge wheels. Flat tires, peeling paint, tattered upholstery. Filthy but largely complete engine compartment. “Needs everything” is not adequate to describe this disaster area. – The Rudge wheels add significantly to the appeal of this 300SL Roadster, but its condition here is a far cry from the image in the new owner’s eye of a sharp, perfectly restored Roadster. Literally e-v-e-r-y piece will need to be removed and reconditioned or replaced. Its story of resurrection from years of decline in southern California heat, sun and dirt adds some value, but this is a project that will, at this price, be buried by its restoration cost.
Lot # 285 1962 Porsche 356B 1600 ‘Twin-Grille’ Roadster, Body by d’Ieteren Freres; S/N 89848; Engine # 608275; Oslo Blue/Grey leatherette; Grey top; Estimate $350,000 – $550,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,050,000 plus commission of 10.48%; Final Price $1,160,000. – 1,582/60hp, 4-speed. – Described as original paint, interior, engine and transaxle and appears to be essentially complete and preserved in as-found condition in 1978 by Rudi Klein. Used by Aase Brothers in the 80’s as the template for restoring similar cars, respectfully and appropriately called “reference grade”. It is old and dirty outside but the engine compartment and interior are surprisingly well-preserved with bright finishes and good soft trim. It is the odd-man-out among the derelict hulk 356 Porsches in the Klein salvage yard. Even the rubber pedal pads are crisp and sharp. – This is the most exceptional of all the cars in Rudi Klein’s collection, a literal time capsule preserved carefully within the dozens of ratty, crunched, parted-out 356s that filled this auction. Klein operated a salvage yard and favored clients could look for bits of trim, body panels, interior elements and of course engines and transaxles but Rudi apparently kept this car aside and it doesn’t appear to have lost even a door handle or engine accessory in over 40 years. It is a remarkable tribute to Rudi Klein’s appreciation of the Porsche 356 and the ultimate recognition of its significance. The other 356 hulks were parts cars. This is what they aspired to be and it earned a nearly unimaginable premium for its originality. A neglected and used older restoration 356B d’Ieteren Roadster might bring RM’s pre-sale low estimate of $350,000. This result is triple that value, all on the basis of originality and preservation.
Lot # 286 1977 Maserati Bora 4.9 Coupe; S/N AM11749US988; Black/Black leather; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $25,200. – 4,930/320hp, 5-speed. – Every left body panel is crushed and bent. The glass is broken, the interior is tattered, the engine compartment is filthy and picked over. It does have wheels, however. Seriously nasty to the point where touching it risks getting an infection but at least there is an engine and transaxle. – There is no chance at all that this Bora will come back to life as a car, but it is an intriguing collection of beautiful, exotic parts including the engine and transaxle that will make a lovely display piece. Others than that, there is little utility in this acquisition except to meld the pieces into the restoration of a Better Bora, and any Bora is better than this one.
Lot # 287 1960 Porsche 356 A/B Super 90 Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 1021; Engine # P706807; Metallic Blue, Metallic Blue hardtop/Black; Black top; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,200. – 1,582/90hp replacement engine, 4-speed, chrome wheels, luggage rack, Reutter hardtop. – Assembled by a Porsche engineer from a 356A body (#13019) and 356B suspension, now with a replacement engine. Rotten with body sills falling off and cancerous doors and fenders. Collapsed left rear suspension. Torn upholstery. Peeling paint with areas of surface rust. An intriguing story but not a real Porsche, either, and a daunting project. – Someone saw something in the shadows cast by this non-Porsche, a shimmering vision of a unique 356. Parts replacement during resurrection of this rust pile won’t harm its originality much since nothing is, strictly speaking, original at all. It is a grand dream but difficult to justify financially at this price even though it does call to mind the Johnny Cash song, “One Piece at a Time”. Johnny’s car “wouldn’t cost me a dime”, but this Porsche is already a lot more than that.
Lot # 288 1966 Iso Grifo Series I Coupe; S/N GL640056; Metallic Green/Black; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $162,400. – 327/365hp, 4-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, power windows, woodrim steering wheel, Blaupunkt AM-FM, Audiovox 8-track player. – Among the Rudi Klein collection of rust buckets and stripped wads of metal this Grifo is surprisingly complete. The driver’s door, left and right rear fenders and nose are dented. Seats have been removed and disappeared. Acquired in 1971 and other than being plucked of its seats largely complete. Dusty and dirty everywhere but a reasonable project for a very deep pocketbook. – In contrast to the more irrational prices brought by many of the Rudi Klein cars this car and the price paid for it both made sense. It has all the elements except one to facilitate a thoughtful restoration. The missing element? Buckets more money.
Lot # 289 1936 Mercedes-Benz 290 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 136200; Black/Grey; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $20,160. – RHD. 2,847/68hp, 4-speed with overdrive, dual sidemounts, top hinged windshield. – Rumored to have been owned originally by film maker D.W. Griffith, later used as a prop car in an episode of Hogan’s Heroes. Now sadly neglected, dirty, rushing and tattered inside. The engine compartment appears to be complete. – The Mannheim-built Mercedes with their utilitarian L-head engines pale in contrast with the big overhead camshaft eights although they concede little in quality to their counterparts from Unterturkheim. A solid, comfortable, reliable automobile, it is without distinction for either performance or style.
Lot # 290 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing; S/N 1980435500872; Engine # 1989805500868; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $4,500,000 – $6,000,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,500,000 plus commission of 10.06%; Final Price $9,355,000. – 2,996/240hp NSL-spec engine, 4-speed, Rudge centerlock alloy wheels. – Represented as the only alloy Gullwing originally built in black with the red leather it retains today. Possibly first sold to Luigi Chinetti and bought from Chinetti by Rudi Klein in 1976. Put away and never driven or shown publicly, one of 29 alloy Gullwings built. Shows 73,387 km. Bumpers, spare Rudge wheel, tool kit, jack and shift knob sold off but otherwise complete if rough and dented in the rear from a forklift accident. Represented as the original engine, gearbox, axles and body. The engine compartment is filthy. In fact the whole car is losing paint finishes and covered in Santa Ana grit and dust. – It is instructive to follow the auction history of one Alloy Gullwing, s/n 5500786. It sold at RM Amelia ’03 for $750,000, freshly restored. In 2004 it was bid to $770,000 at RM Monterey, then began to take off and was bid to $2.4 million at RM London in 2012 and $4.5 million at RM Monterey in 2015 before selling at Monterey in 2022, two years ago, for $4,550,000 hammer, $5,010,000 all-in. All this with the same restoration it had in 2003 while recording just 1,703 more km in twenty-one years after a concours quality restoration that shows barely any age. Then there’s this alloy Gullwing suffering the slings and arrows of 48 years kicking around Klein’s salvage yard and being picked over for some of its largely unique but not major parts. And it brought 87% more than 5500786 did just two years ago. RM’s pre-sale estimate made sense, but this successful hammer price is 42% more than RM’s high estimate, a result which makes no sense even if it was the sole example delivered in black.
Lot # 292 1957 BMW 503 Series I Cabriolet; S/N 69178; Engine # 22388; White/Blue, White vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $156,800. – 3,146/140hp, 4-speed, column shift, power windows and top, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Becker Mexico radio, underdash gauges, alternator – Pitted, peeling chrome. Dull, peeling paint. Mildew stained, stiff, creased but sound upholstery. Torn top. A rare and remarkably complete BMW with crisp, dramatic styling and modest V-8 power, represented as one of only 78 aluminum bodied Series I cabriolets. Secreted for four decades in Rudi Klein’s Porsche Foreign Auto Wrecking. – This BMW popped through the top of RM’s auction estimate and it is easily understood why it would. It looks like death reawakened but its reawakening to be a standout at any BMW show will be fairly straightforward if not accomplished at a moderate cost. It could be recommissioned mechanically and remain in its scruffy cosmetic condition for some turns at Preservation class entries and appears to have most, if not all, of its impossible to find cosmetic details and trim. The bidders bravely ventured into the unknown with this successful bid and it might actually work out.
Lot # 293 1968 Mercedes-Benz 600 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 10001222001063; Tunis Beige metallic, Black roof/Black; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unrestored original 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $19,040. – RHD. 6,329/200hp, automatic, air conditioning. – Collapsed suspension, missing the hood, tattered and torn upholstery, dry and dull interior wood. At least it has most of the major pieces under the hood. A righthand drive parts car. – The market for M-B 600s was strong a few years ago when they had a following among Eastern European and Russian oligarchs, politicians and hoodlums. Putin’s Ukrainian adventure has foreclosed much of that market and the need for M-B 600 parts cars has pretty much evaporated as this result indicates.
Lot # 295 1959 Porsche 356A Carrera 1500 GS/GT Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 105441; Engine # 92012; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $450,000 – $600,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $800,000 plus commission of 10.63%; Final Price $885,000. – 1,499/110hp, 2×2 Solex carburetors, 4-speed, woodrim steering wheel, bucket driver’s seat, standard 356 passenger’s seat. – The catalog notes that the Porsche Kardex shows this Carrera once had a standard 1600 Porsche was once installed but the rare 692/1 4-cam plain bearing engine now in it is referenced on the Kardex as the original matching numbers unit, the 12th of its interim type, one only just over a dozen built before being replaced by the later Typ 692/2 and 3. (692/0 is this engine with a roller bearing crankshaft.) The gearbox has been replaced. Everything about this car is old but it is well-maintained even after 47 years of limited if any use, remarkably good among the derelict parts cars in Porsche Foreign Auto Wrecking. – This is an heroic survivor among the picked over, battered, rusty vehicles in Rudi Klein’s salvage yard and an extremely rare engine configuration. Its preservation during Rudi Klein’s nearly 5 decades of ownership is extraordinary and it deserves to be continued in this form following only a specialist recommissioning of the chassis and intricate 4-cam 692/1 engine. It will be a welcome entrant in preservation class events with a story (like those of A.K. Miller’s Stutzes) that gives it additional life and intrigue. It is one of the best cars in this collection and the bidders can be forgiven (or at least given the benefit of the doubt) for paying this much for it.
Lot # 296 1937 Horch 853 Cabriolet; S/N 853412; Engine # 851798; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $325,000 plus commission of 11.54%; Final Price $362,500. – 4,911/120hp, 4-speed, steel artillery wheels, heater, suicide doors, dual sidemounts. – Acquired from GM VP Alexander Cunningham who probably acquired it and had it restored in Germany while working at Opel. Acquired from him by Rudy Klein in 1979 and displayed at a museum in Ingolstadt, Germany since 1992, which accounts for its better maintained and kept up condition than most of the other Rudi Klein cars with sound old paint, interior wood trim and well-used but sound upholstery and top. Restamped data plate with non-standard engine number stamping matching the engine in the car. – While not having the magic of a supercharged 8-cylinder Mercedes-Benz, the Horch was Auto Union’s answer to the Teutonic legends and every bit a luxurious, powerful competitor with similar German body designs. Considering the prices brought by the Horch 855 Special Roadster and M-B “Caracciola Coupe” 500K later in this sale this is an astute purchase that promises to be very good value for money.
Lot # 297 1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Molded Fliptail Coupe; S/N V811928LCAV; Engine # V5401928LFM; Metallic Green; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $50,400. – 5,340/390hp, Weber carburetors, 5-speed, alloy wheels, air conditioning. – Represented as the original engine. Faded original paint. Dry, stiff original upholstery. Accident damaged nose and right side with a cut open right door panel that may have been used to access the now missing right door window. Smashed back window. Filthy after almost 50 years at Porsche Foreign Auto Wrecking. Substantially complete but an epic restoration project. – Most of the bits that make up a real car are here, just deteriorated into a slug of aluminum, steel, leather and plastic after five decades in the California sun.
Lot # 298 1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster, Body by Gläser; S/N 855007; Engine # 852020; Black/Cream leather; Black cloth, top; Estimate $3,000,000 – $4,000,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,000,000 plus commission of 10.17%; Final Price $3,305,000. – 4,911/120hp inline eight, 4-speed, dual spotlights, black wire wheels, rumble seat. – One of only two short wheelbase Horch 855s known to survive, the other being the 853-numbered prototype. Bought in Germany by U.S. serviceman Loren E. Lawrence in the late 40’s and brought to the U.S. Sold to Purcell Ingram in California in 1953, then to Jim Brucker, Sr. in 1959 and movie used while in the Bruckers’ Movieworld Cars of the Stars museum. Rudi Klein bought it in 1980, then lent it to Audi for display at Ingolstadt in 1992 which included a restoration in Germany. Only recently repatriated to the U.S. for this sale. Good older European museum-quality cosmetics and mechanics. – Probably unique, which in the context of great straight-eight German cars of the 1930’s is an achievement, and presentable, which in the context of cars from Rudi Klein’s salvage yard is also an achievement. Finally, it has dramatic, sleek, streamlined and sporting coachwork that is markedly different from German uber-automobiles of the period. Its restoration under Audi supervision in Germany is difficult to fault except for age making it an odd-man-out in the Klein salvage yard and considering all its strengths it is a good value for money even though it is not as recognizable as a contemporary supercharged Mercedes-Benz.
Lot # 299 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Caracciola Special Coupe, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 113718; Engine # 113718; Maroon/Prune leather; Estimate $4,000,000 – $6,000,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,750,000 plus commission of 10.13%; Final Price $4,130,000. – 4,984/100-160hp supercharged eight, 4-speed, outside exhaust headpipes, mother of pearl instrument panel, chrome spore wire wheels, wide whitewall tires, fitted luggage, Bosch headlights, rear-mounted spare, build sheet documented. – Special Sindelfingen coachwork with tall coupe roof adapted to M-B’s champion driver Rudolf Caracciola, featured in M-B promotion in period. Discovered in “a manure pile” in Ethiopia in the early 60’s by Dr. Milton Roth, then ended up with Matthew L. Post for whom it was restored by Dale Hanson, 2nd in class at Pebble Beach (to a Type 41 Bugatti Royale) in 1966. After two (or so) more owners acquired by Rudi Klein from Jim Packer. Stored since then with aging paint, a few bumps and bruises and the general Santa Ana dust that characterizes the Klein cars. Remarkably sound and well-preserved, it deserves distinction as the best and most significant of the Rudi Klein preserved cars. – The appeal of the stronger 540K in undeniable and almost everyone looks askance at a coupe when considering a Special Roadster as an alternative, but this is singular, historically notable automobile with ownership history by an epic, not simply notable, Grand Prix and Mille Miglia winner. The enthusiasm lavished upon the alloy Gullwing, which was never owned by anyone notable, and the price it brought is a disconnect between real value and history and common conceptions of desirability. This transaction was a bargain.
Lot # 300 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S Berlinetta, Body by Bertone; S/N 4070; Engine # 30366; Blue, Black sills/Black vinyl, cloth inserts; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $875,000 plus commission of 10.57%; Final Price $967,500. – 3,929/370hp, 5-speed, power windows, Borrani alloy wheels. – Nose clamshell missing, rotten body sills. Represented as the matching-numbers engine. Rusty, grungy, dented and scraped. Broken windshield. Generally worn out and covered in dirt. Stripped interior console switches and gauges. A promise of a real car with its condition exemplified by the threadbare rope attached to the throttle pedal to close the throttle manually. – Stuck in Rudi Klein’s salvage yard since 1978, this is a desirable car, but it is in far from desirable condition even at this price. Resurrecting it will be a labor of love and a financial challenge. It needs [more than] everything, including money.
Lot # 301 1931 Mercedes-Benz 370S Sport Cabriolet; S/N Engine No. 87085; Engine # 87085; White, Grey accent/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 11.11%; Final Price $500,000. – 3,663/78hp inline eight, 3-speed with overdrive, Bosch headlights, dual sidemounts, top-hinged windshield, spotlights, driving lights, later VDO electronic tach. – An unusual sporting Mannheim Benz-Mercedes with attractive but not sleek open coachwork. In the U.S. since the early 70’s and acquired by Rudi Klein in 1982 but left with the seller until 2001. Bedraggled, dirty and old (the term “aged” is too modest for its comprehensive neglect), in need of a complete restoration but at least mostly there. – There is a star car somewhere under this miasma of rust, dust and grime, but it will not be easy or inexpensive to realize its potential and when it is done it still will be a flathead eight Mannheim Benz-Mercedes with erect cabriolet coachwork. This price is a bet on potential that is not likely to pay off.
Lot # 302 1971 NSU ro80 2 Porte + 2 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 0811000370; Silver, Grey/Crimson cloth; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Unrestored original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $415,000 plus commission of 11.20%; Final Price $461,500. – 995/113hp twin-rotor Wankel engine, 3-speed semi-automatic, Voxson AM-FM and 8-track, full retracting roof panel. – A Pininfarina show car with several Avant Garde design details, shown at Turin in 1971 and Brussels in 1972. Displayed for years after 1995 at parent company Auto Union’s museum where it was undriven but nicely maintained in nearly new condition including the blazing crimson upholstery. It is unlikely to be road-ready (if it ever was) but everything is here and the cosmetics need little attention, all of it going into the Wankel and front wheel drivetrain – A piece of dramatic 70’s design on a chassis and drivetrain that was for that time a leader in advanced engineering and concept. Unlike most of the Klein cars it avoided the fate of being picked over in the Porsche Salvage yard and shows all the signs of careful and consistent cosmetic car at the hands of Audi where NSU was one of the four rings in the Auto Union symbol. It is a long journey through uncharted territory looking for long lost parts if it is to run and drive, making it remarkably expensive for anyone but a successful Audi/VW dealer’s display. There must have been at least two of them here for it to have ascended into the value stratosphere in this transaction, a result that defies understanding.
Lot # 303 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 Berlinetta, Body by Bertone; S/N 3417; Engine # 1790; Metallic Green/Black; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.42%; Final Price $1,325,000. – 3,929/350hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels. – Represented as the matching numbers engine. Peeling paint, dead upholstery and interior trim. Filthy. Dented, edge chipped body panels. Dust covered engine compartment. When put away at Porsche Foreign Auto Wrecking in 1978 it was largely complete as seen here and most of the cosmetic damage may be attributed to being knocked around for almost 50 years and occasionally picked over for select parts. There is another Miura claiming the same chassis number in Germany, but this appears to be genuine with appropriate matching numbers. It demands comprehensive attention to every aspect. – There is a million dollars between the price of this Miura P400 and the concours restored image of what it might be. It takes an act of faith to fit those two values in the same continuum and this is an expensive acquisition.
Lot # 304 1936 Maybach SW38 4-Dr. Cabriolet, Body by Spohn; S/N 1798; Engine # 11598; Grey/No; No top; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $173,600. – RHD. 4,196/140hp, – Left outside for over a generation and is particularly parlous condition. Every surface is falling apart, covered in dirt and dust and decimated by the bright southern California sunshine, aided by the toxic effects of generations of smog. This isn’t a barn find, it is “field art”. The elements of a car are here, but they are universally seized. – The graffiti spray painted on the sides may be the most creative element on this Maybach. With this price the bidders evaluated it as a restoration project. Anyone else would consign it to a parts car valuation This is a beyond reasonable result.
Lot # 305 1933 Horch 780 Sport Cabriolet; S/N 78190; Engine # 55428; Black/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $235,200. – 4,911/100hp inline eight, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, wide whitewalls, rear-mounted spare – On loan from Rudi Klein, this Horch 780 was maintained but not shown by the Audi museum in Ingolstadt, Germany along with some other of his cars. It doesn’t appear ever to have been restored with body dents, peeling paint, dull chrome and well-used upholstery and a dashboard missing some instruments. It is potentially an important car, but it is a long, arduous and expensive road getting to that. – Most of the Rudi Klein cars were of a type: bent, broken, stripped and filthy. This Horch is just old and dirty. Rather appealing despite its age and neglect. RM’s pre-sale estimate was firmly on the side of conservation both with respect to condition and to the modest profile of the Horch marque among collectors. While this result vastly exceeded the estimate range it also reflects the quality, style and rarity of this Sport Cabriolet.
Lot # 306 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 Berlinetta, Body by Bertone; S/N 3195; Orange, Black sills; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.91%; Final Price $610,000. – No engine or gearbox, wide aftermarket centerlock alloy wheels, no seats. – Cataloged as an early “thin chassis” Miura, the 53re constructed, built with 0.9mm steel rather than the 1.0mm used later. Sitting in Rudi Klein’s junkyard since 1980, picked over for parts (like the headlight housings and surrounds), filthy and dented in some places. – Not as egregiously expensive as the 1968 Miura in this auction but at least that one had an engine and transmission. Rudi Klein’s fascination with Porsches was manifest in this auction but the presence of three and one-half Miuras shows it wasn’t all about German cars. This will be a monster project and it is already an expensive one.
Lot # 307 1963 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Cabriolet; S/N 11102312040923; Green/none; no top; Estimate $2,000 – $5,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,250 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $4,760. – 2,195/115hp, automatic. – Stripped of most trim, interior, top frame gauges and too much else to list, it does have a complete engine with the fuel injection system and distributor, and all four wheels with hubcaps. The back of the car sags from being hit. – The last 4-wheel lot in this milestone sale, it is appropriately emblematic of the “junkyard” theme and brought an appropriate junkyard price, at least in this sale.