On April 29, 2023, Bonhams will kick off the Audrain Veteran Car Tour by putting 35 cars of the brass era (predominantly) under the hammer. The auction will take place in Newport, Rhode Island. The collection, which also includes many automobilia and spare parts, has been assembled by an enthusiastic father and son team over 70 years. Many of the vehicles will be coming to the market for the first time in over 40 years. With the exception of three cars, all cars are offered without a minimum price.
In total, the 35 cars were estimated at around USD 2.86 million, which equates to around USD 82,000 per car.
Average age 111 years
The fact that this auction is different from what we are used to is shown by the average age of the cars, which is 111 years. In fact, the youngest car is from 1947, a Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible and the only post-war car in the collection.
It is also one of the first cars to join the collection, but at USD 125,000 to 175,000 it is certainly not the most expensive.
All the other cars were built before 1941, starting with 1901. 31 of the 35 cars actually date from 1901 to 1912.
Ford, Buick, Cadillac and ...
Ford is most strongly represented, with several Model T. A total of 8 cars come from Ford, another 4 from Buick and 3 from Cadillac. All other manufacturers are represented with a maximum of two vehicles.
Of course, there are also some really rare manufacturers among the brands, such as Courier, EMF, Franklin, Maxwell, Oakland, Pope-Hartford or Pope-Toledo.
Palmer-Singer was once a luxury car manufacturer. Henry Palmer and Charles Singer were responsible for these remarkable cars, offered here is a 1911 Model 4-50 that has been in the collection since 1956. As much as USD 400,000 to 500,000 is being asked for this rare, 50 hp, four-cylinder car.
Almost the New York-Paris race winner
Even more famous than the Palmer-Singer is the Thomas Flyer Model 31 Touring from 1906, a forerunner of the car that won the famous 22,000-mile race from New York to Paris in 1908. Performance and equipment match.
The Flyer on offer was part of the collection for around 60 years and is now set to find a new owner for USD 400,000 to 500,000.
Cheap cars too
However, there are not only cars for six-figure sums in the game on April 29, 2023. Some of the Ford Model T cars are valued at less than USD 20,000, many of which will probably need some work to make the cars drivable again, especially as they have mainly served as museum pieces in recent years.
The second youngest car in the auction, a 1940 American Bantam Model 64 Super Roadster, was also estimated at a reasonable USD 15,000 to 25,000.
All the cars with many photos and comprehensive information can be studied in more detail on the Bonhams website. It will be an interesting auction and it is not every day that a collection of very early cars that has been assembled and cherished over so many years comes under the hammer.
Offered Vehicles
The following table lists all offered vehicles with estimated prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid at the time of publication. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | NoR | USD Est from | USD Est to | CHF Est from | CHF Est to | EUR Est from | EUR Est to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | American Bantam Model 64 Super Roadster | 1940 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 13'500 | 22'500 | 13'650 | 22'750 |
| 502 | Ford Model R Runabout | 1907 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 503 | Buick Model F Touring (1907/1908) | 1907 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 504 | Ford Model T Torpedo Roadster | 1911 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 505 | Oldsmobile Model 6C Curved Dash Runabout | 1904 | Yes | 45'000 | 50'000 | 40'500 | 45'000 | 40'950 | 45'500 |
| 506 | REO 16/20HP Twin Cylinder Touring Car | 1907 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'000 | 27'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 |
| 507 | Cadillac Model B Rear Entrance Tonneau | 1904 | Yes | 80'000 | 100'000 | 72'000 | 90'000 | 72'800 | 91'000 |
| 508 | Ford Model T Touring | 1909 | Yes | 12'000 | 18'000 | 10'800 | 16'200 | 10'920 | 16'380 |
| 509 | Oakland Model 40 Touring | 1909 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 510 | Thomas Flyer 50HP Seven Passenger Touring Car | 1906 | 400'000 | 500'000 | 360'000 | 450'000 | 364'000 | 455'000 | |
| 511 | Darracq Model 40/60 Runabout | 1906 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 90'000 | 135'000 | 91'000 | 136'500 |
| 512 | Franklin Model A 12HP Four-Cylinder Runabout | 1905 | Yes | 40'000 | 50'000 | 36'000 | 45'000 | 36'400 | 45'500 |
| 513 | Thomas Model 18 Single Cylinder 8HP Rear Entrance Tonneau (ca. 1903) | 1903 | Yes | 70'000 | 90'000 | 63'000 | 81'000 | 63'700 | 81'900 |
| 514 | Palmer-Singer Model 4-50 Seven Passenger Touring | 1911 | 400'000 | 500'000 | 360'000 | 450'000 | 364'000 | 455'000 | |
| 515 | Ford Model T Torpedo Roadster Project | 1912 | Yes | 10'000 | 15'000 | 9000 | 13'500 | 9100 | 13'650 |
| 516 | Locomobile Style 2 5.5HP Dos-a-dos Steam Runabout (ca. 1901) | 1901 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 22'500 | 31'500 | 22'750 | 31'850 |
| 517 | EMF Model 30 Touring | 1909 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 518 | Pope-Hartford Model L 25-30HP Raceabout | 1907 | Yes | 85'000 | 115'000 | 76'500 | 103'500 | 77'350 | 104'650 |
| 519 | Cadillac Model 30 Tourer | 1910 | Yes | 40'000 | 50'000 | 36'000 | 45'000 | 36'400 | 45'500 |
| 520 | Maxwell Model H 16HP Touring | 1905 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 521 | Oakland Model 20 2 Cylinder Touring | 1909 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'000 | 27'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 |
| 522 | REO 16HP Model A Five Passenger Car | 1906 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'000 | 27'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 |
| 523 | Cadillac Model F Touring (1905/1906) | 1905 | Yes | 40'000 | 50'000 | 36'000 | 45'000 | 36'400 | 45'500 |
| 524 | Pope-Toledo Model XII 35/40HP Roi Des Belges | 1906 | 275'000 | 325'000 | 247'500 | 292'500 | 250'250 | 295'750 | |
| 525 | Courier Model 10-A-1 Roadster | 1910 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'000 | 27'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 |
| 526 | Buick Model 2A Pickup Truck | 1910 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 527 | Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible | 1947 | Yes | 125'000 | 175'000 | 112'500 | 157'500 | 113'750 | 159'250 |
| 528 | Franklin Model G Touring | 1908 | Yes | 40'000 | 50'000 | 36'000 | 45'000 | 36'400 | 45'500 |
| 529 | Ford Model T Touring | 1912 | Yes | 12'000 | 18'000 | 10'800 | 16'200 | 10'920 | 16'380 |
| 530 | Ford V8 Roadster | 1935 | Yes | 35'000 | 45'000 | 31'500 | 40'500 | 31'850 | 40'950 |
| 531 | EMF Model 30 Touring | 1909 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 22'500 | 31'500 | 22'750 | 31'850 |
| 532 | Pierce-Arrow Model 36-UU Touring Car | 1911 | Yes | 200'000 | 300'000 | 180'000 | 270'000 | 182'000 | 273'000 |
| 533 | Buick Series 60 Model 64 Sport Roadster | 1930 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'000 | 72'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 |
| 534 | Buick Model G Roadster | 1909 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'000 | 36'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 |
| 535 | Ford Model T "Frontenac" Roadster | 1911 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'000 | 27'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column NoR = No Reserve (no minimum price), Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
