It was a very special auction that Bonhams organized in Denmark on 26 September 2015. Rarities and unique pieces that you can't buy every day came under the hammer.
48 cars (and one engine) from the Frederiksen collection are on offer in Ebeltoft, Denmark. The total value has been estimated at around 25.5 million euros (CHF 27.7 million).
42 of the 48 vehicles were sold, with an average price per car of Euro 451,308 or CHF 492.919 (including surcharge/commission).
Lots of interest from all over the world
The individual vehicles could be driven up and were explained in detail in English and Danish. There was a great deal of interest in many of the vehicles, with Internet and telephone bidders also participating strongly.
With the exception of six vehicles, including two Citroëns, only pre-war vehicles came under the hammer.
The unique Frua-Rolls-Royce
The monumental convertible that Pietro Frua had built at the beginning of the 1970s based on a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI was eagerly awaited. "One of the most extravagant convertibles ever built," said the auctioneer in his introduction and he then accepted the first bids.
The price went up quickly and in between, the Bonhams spokesman let the car roll forward a little and showed off the huge trunk. "You can take several golf outfits with you," he said, and the announcement prompted further bids until finally a telephone bidder won the battle against a room bidder and the hammer fell at DKK 3.2 million, which meant Euro 493,317 or CHF 538,801 as the selling price (including commission) and was still almost 160% of the median estimate. Given the rarity and the effort that Frua once invested in the car, however, this was probably still a good price.
The high-flyers
Six cars were sold for significantly more than expected.
In addition to the Frua Phantom, these were a Bentley 6 1/2 Litre "Bob-Tail" from 1927, a Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet from 1937, a magnificent Lagonda LG6 Rapide as a Drophead Coupé from 1939, a Mercedes-Benz 320N as a Cabriolet A from 1937, a Cadillac V-12 Series 370 Roadster from 1931 and a Rolls-Royce 20/25 Owen Sedanca Coupé from 1934.
On average, however, the sales prices were 96%, even including the commission, which means that a whole series of classics had to be sold below the estimated price.
The price level was certainly relatively high, but in view of the prices achieved by much more frequently produced cars such as a Ferrari F40 or a Lamborghini Miura, some of these rare pre-war prestige cars appeared to be a real bargain.
The most expensive car at the auction was a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Roadster, which found a new garage for EUR 2.61 million or CHF 2.4 million.
Maybach Zeppelin not sold
The most expensive vehicle announced at the auction in Ebeltoft was a 1933 Maybach DS-8 Zeppelin Cabriolet, which had been estimated at between EUR 2.7 and 3.2 million. The auctioneer opened the bidding at DKK 10 million, which corresponded to around EUR 1.54 million. The bids rose relatively quickly to DKK 17 million, but at 17.2 million the air was out, nobody wanted to bid more than Euro 2.65 million. This meant that the reserve price was obviously not reached and the last lot could not be knocked down.
At least the other Maybach was sold, albeit well below the estimated price.
The Bentley S1 Drophead Coupé from 1958, the Cord 812 Supercharged 'Sportsman' from 193, the Rolls-Royce 40/50 "Roi-Des-Belges" from 1911, the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Town Car from 1927 and the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Open Tourer from 1931 were also left without new owners after almost seven hours of auctioning.
The fact that, apart from the Maybach and the Cord, it was exclusively Rolls and Bentley vehicles that could not be sold is partly, but not entirely, put into perspective by the high proportion of these two brands in the overall offer.
Results in detail
The following list shows all auctioned vehicles including estimated prices in euros and the sales prices in Danish kroner (DKK), euros and CHF.
The column "% Est" compares the sales price in euros with the estimated value. Vehicles that have not been sold are listed without a sales price.
All information without guarantee.
The table can be sorted as desired by clicking on the column headings.
| Lot | Vehicle | Year | € Est from | € Est to | DKK VP | CHF VP | € VP | % Est |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citroën DS23 Pallas | 1974 | 40000 | 54000 | 241500 | 35358 | 32373 | 0.69 |
| 2 | Citroën SM Coupé | 1973 | 47000 | 60000 | 379500 | 55563 | 50873 | 0.95 |
| 3 | Mercedes-Benz 320N Cabriolet A | 1937 | 250000 | 330000 | 3622500 | 530382 | 485609 | 1.67 |
| 4 | Rolls-Royce Phantom I Playboy Roadster | 1931 | 270000 | 350000 | 2300000 | 336750 | 308323 | 0.99 |
| 5 | Packard Twelve 1107 Coupe Roadster | 1934 | 350000 | 540000 | 2702500 | 395682 | 362279 | 0.81 |
| 6 | Bentley S1 Drophead Coupe | 1958 | 960000 | 1200000 | ||||
| 7 | Jaguar SS 100 3½ Litre Roadster | 1938 | 480000 | 620000 | 3335000 | 488288 | 447068 | 0.81 |
| 8 | Bentley 6½ Litre 'Bob-Tail' | 1927 | 620000 | 800000 | 7187500 | 1052346 | 963510 | 1.36 |
| 9 | Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Tourer | 1913 | 560000 | 750000 | 3910000 | 572476 | 524149 | 0.8 |
| 10 | Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet | 1937 | 290000 | 380000 | 3507500 | 513544 | 470193 | 1.4 |
| 11 | Auburn 12-165 Salon Convertible | 1934 | 310000 | 480000 | 2242500 | 328332 | 300615 | 0.76 |
| 12 | Chrysler Town & Country Convertible | 1948 | 100000 | 130000 | 943000 | 138067 | 126412 | 1.1 |
| 13 | Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tourer | 1927 | 94000 | 120000 | 632500 | 92606 | 84788 | 0.79 |
| 14 | Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Roadster | 1930 | 2300000 | 2800000 | 17825000 | 2609818 | 2389506 | 0.94 |
| 15 | Woods Electric Queens Victoria Brougham | 1905 | 74000 | 87000 | 632500 | 92606 | 84788 | 1.05 |
| 16 | Mercedes-Benz 500K 'Special Roadster' | 1935 | 870000 | 1200000 | 7590000 | 1111277 | 1017467 | 0.98 |
| 17 | Hudson Hornet Brougham Convertible | 1951 | 130000 | 170000 | 1150000 | 168375 | 154161 | 1.03 |
| 18 | Hispano-Suiza H6C Cabriolet De Ville | 1930 | 400000 | 580000 | 2990000 | 437776 | 400820 | 0.82 |
| 19 | Chrysler Imperial Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton | 1931 | 480000 | 580000 | 2834750 | 415045 | 380008 | 0.72 |
| 20 | Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Skiff | 1914 | 960000 | 1200000 | 7475000 | 1094440 | 1002051 | 0.93 |
| 21 | Alvis 4.3 Litre Special Drophead Coupe | 1937 | 120000 | 130000 | 920000 | 134700 | 123329 | 0.99 |
| 22 | Cadillac V-16 Series 452 Convertible Sedan | 1934 | 400000 | 540000 | 2875000 | 420938 | 385404 | 0.82 |
| 23 | Maybach Sw-38 'Special Roadster' | 1937 | 1100000 | 1300000 | 7475000 | 1094440 | 1002051 | 0.84 |
| 24 | Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Frua Convertible | 1973 | 270000 | 350000 | 3680000 | 538801 | 493317 | 1.59 |
| 25 | Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost 'Balloon Car' | 1910 | 620000 | 830000 | 4312500 | 631407 | 578106 | 0.8 |
| 26 | Stutz DV-32 Roadster | 1933 | 440000 | 620000 | 3795000 | 555638 | 508733 | 0.96 |
| 27 | Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Owen Sedanca Coupe | 1933 | 750000 | 960000 | 5175000 | 757689 | 693727 | 0.81 |
| 28 | Mercedes 28/95 Phaeton | 1914 | 1300000 | 1700000 | 9372500 | 1372259 | 1256417 | 0.84 |
| 29 | Renault V-1 20/30 Cape Top Victoria | 1909 | 160000 | 200000 | 805000 | 117862 | 107913 | 0.6 |
| 30 | Cord 812 Supercharged 'Sportsman' | 1937 | 130000 | 270000 | ||||
| 31 | Lagonda LG6 Rapide Drophead Coupe | 1939 | 460000 | 560000 | 5462500 | 799783 | 732268 | 1.44 |
| 32 | Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Landaulette | 1929 | 510000 | 620000 | 3507500 | 513544 | 470193 | 0.83 |
| 33 | Sunbeam 25/30 HP Torpedo | 1913 | 160000 | 210000 | 1207500 | 176794 | 161869 | 0.87 |
| 34 | Rolls-Royce Phantom III Drophead Coupe | 1937 | 540000 | 700000 | 4140000 | 606151 | 554982 | 0.9 |
| 35 | Ahrens-Fox Model N-S-4 Firetruck | 1925 | 170000 | 270000 | 1219000 | 178477 | 163411 | 0.74 |
| 36 | Packard Twin Six Sport Phaeton | 1932 | 310000 | 400000 | 2127500 | 311494 | 285199 | 0.8 |
| 37 | Cadillac V-12 Series 370 Roadster | 1931 | 130000 | 170000 | 1437500 | 210469 | 192702 | 1.28 |
| 38 | Rolls-Royce 40/50 'Roi-Des-Belges' | 1911 | 470000 | 670000 | ||||
| 39 | Rolls-Royce Phantom I Town Car | 1927 | 130000 | 170000 | ||||
| 40 | Auburn 12-165 Salon Phaeton | 1933 | 240000 | 310000 | 1667500 | 244144 | 223534 | 0.81 |
| 41 | Lincoln Kb Convertible Sedan | 1934 | 210000 | 270000 | 1667500 | 244144 | 223534 | 0.93 |
| 42 | Pierce-Arrow Model 42 Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton | 1931 | 130000 | 170000 | 977500 | 143119 | 131037 | 0.87 |
| 43 | Cadillac V-16 Series 452 Town Brougham | 1931 | 210000 | 270000 | 1610000 | 235725 | 215826 | 0.9 |
| 44 | Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Convertible | 1912 | 560000 | 750000 | 4772500 | 698757 | 639771 | 0.98 |
| 45 | Rolls-Royce 20/25 Owen Sedanca Coupe | 1934 | 130000 | 170000 | 1380000 | 202050 | 184994 | 1.23 |
| 46 | Rolls-Royce Phantom II Open Tourer | 1931 | 270000 | 350000 | ||||
| 47 | Lincoln Model L Lebaron Convertible | 1924 | 47000 | 74000 | 310500 | 45461 | 41623 | 0.69 |
| 48 | Maybach DS-8 Zeppelin Cabriolet | 1933 | 2700000 | 3200000 |
