Gooding Christie's Stan Lucas Collection 2025 - high and surprising prices for pre-war cars

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Created on September 22, 2025

Reading time 4min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Brian Henniker - Courtesy Gooding Christie's

Mike Maez - Courtesy Gooding Christie's

Gooding Christie's

Brian Henniker - Courtesy Gooding Christie's

Mike Maez - Courtesy Gooding Christie's

Gooding Christie's

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MG TC (1949) - als Lot 027 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Stutz Model 4F Bulldog Demi-Tonneau (1915) - als Lot 034 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Crane-Simplex Model 5 Dual-Cowl Phaeton (1916) - als Lot 040 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring (1911) - als Lot 038 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Doble Series E Roadster (1924) - als Lot 043 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Bentley Speed Six Sports Tourer (1930) - als Lot 050 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Stutz Model 6B 'Bearcat' (1913) - als Lot 057 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Simplex 50 HP Toy-Tonneau (1909) - als Lot 061 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Packard 734 Speedster Runabout (1930) - als Lot 064 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe (1934) - als Lot 071 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Stutz Series K Bearcat (1921) - als Lot 076 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Bentley Eight Litre Drophead Coupe (1931) - als Lot 078 an der Gooding Christie’s Stan Lucas Collection Auction 2025

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Summary

For almost 60 years, Stan Lucas primarily bought early automobiles from American manufacturers. On September 20, 2025, his certainly unique collection came to Long Beach. The 72 cars and one motorcycle were estimated at USD 25.6 million, but ultimately realized USD 33.6 million. Some cars were sold for double or more the estimate, including an Oldsmobile and several Doble. This auction review analyzes the results and shows some of the vehicles in pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Crane-Simplex as a high-flyer
Oldsmobile with record price
Coveted Doble Quinett
Younger cars less in demand
Everything sold

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Stan Lucas was a classic car collector who bought what he liked out of passion and enthusiasm and not to make money. David Gooding said the following about him in the auction catalog: "I first met Stan Lucas in 1984 at one of the Harrah's Auto Collection historic auctions. He was a striking presence - solitary and tall, with his trademark straw hat - meticulously scrutinizing the cars that most people passed by.The collecting world took notice when Stan paid new world record prices for the 1925 Doble and 1911 Winton Touring at the same auction. That was Stan's style - he bought what he wanted for as much as he could afford at the time, regardless of whether it was a "good investment" or not. Of course, many of his cars turned out to be great investments, but that wasn't his point.This philosophy led to a world-class collection of hand-picked examples of the best pre-war marques, including Simplex, Duesenberg, Packard, Stanley, Stutz, Mercer and, of course, Doble. In over six decades of collecting, Stan proudly proclaimed his determination to never sell any of his beloved cars."

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