Once again, Gooding & Co is able to bring an interesting car collection under the hammer. On April 7, 2023, 86 cars and a trailer worth USD 7.9 million will go under the hammer at the Midland Motors building in Lynchburg. The cars will all be offered without a reserve price.
A very special collection
Mark J. Smith was born in New York State in 1952. With a deep love for automobiles and all things antique, Mark cultivated a keen eye for quality and appreciated objects of rarity and historical significance. Throughout his life, he was tireless in his search for hidden treasures, favoring original vehicles from the classic era for his collection.
He owned a large selection of automobiles, preferably from the pre-war era and the first decades of automobile construction. He preferred unrestored originals and well-maintained early automobiles to shiny show cars. As his car collection grew into the hundreds, he purchased several buildings in historic downtown Lynchburg, Virginia, to house his automotive treasures. This included Midland Motors, where the auction is being held. This is a former Chrysler dealership that Mark turned into a showcase for his most prized possessions.
"Mark Smith was one of the most knowledgeable and passionate enthusiasts our industry has ever known, and I had the great pleasure of knowing him personally during my career in the collector car world," said David Gooding, president and founder of Gooding & Company. "A brilliant and refined collector, Mark assembled an incredible and diverse collection of mostly unrestored pre-war American and European treasures, often acquired after years of research and perseverance. A collector through and through, Mark greatly treasured his greatest automotive finds, most of which are offered here at the Estate of Mark Smith auction."
Many highlights
Four of the classics on offer are likely to go for well over a quarter of a million USD.
The Mercedes-Benz 500 K open-top touring car from 1934 with chassis number 105355 in particular presents itself as an unrestored rarity, as only five examples are believed to have survived. USD 1.25 to 1.75 million was estimated for it.
A Chrysler CG Imperial Custom Roadster from 1932 is expected to be somewhat cheaper. It is also largely in original condition and has been estimated at USD 800,000 to 1.2 million.
One of the older cars is the White Model G "Roi des Bleges" Touring from 1907. Chassis 5142 was already honored with the Thomas McKean Tour Trophy in 1950 and is still in intact and largely unrestored condition. The estimate is USD 250,000 to 350,000.
Only two Bentley 3 1/2 Litre cars have been fitted by Paris coachbuilder Antem. Chassis B5EJ is an elegant convertible with a pleasant patina. USD 250,000 to 350,000 is expected here.
Few "young" cars
On average, the 87 vehicles are almost 92 years old, with only 16 of the cars dating from the post-war period.
Two super classics stand out here, which were valued comparatively favorably. There is a Jaguar XK 120 Roadster from 1953 for USD 60,000 to 80,000 and then the AC Ace Bristol from 1959 for USD 150,000 to 200,000.
Also up for auction are a 1958 Lancia Aurelia B20S GT, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340 Roadster and a 1966 Porsche 911.
Some curiosities
Only just under a dozen cars are not from the USA. Accordingly, American brands such as Ford (17 cars), Packard (10), Studebaker (5), Cadillac, Chevrolet Linocln, Pierce-Arrow and Stutz (3 each) are the most strongly represented.
Among the vehicles there are some curiosities such as the DeSoto S-1 Airstream Custom New York Taxi from 1936 or the Lincoln-Zephyr "Twin Grille" Custom Sedan from 1937. Anyone who loves cars like these should definitely take a closer look. There are also some racing cars under the hammer that can only exist in an American context.
Before you get carried away and bid too high, you should be aware that most of the cars on offer have not been driven for some time and will therefore require more or less "affection" to bring them back into service.
Further information can be found on the Gooding & Co website.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Orient Buckboard | 1903 | Yes | 10'000 | 15'000 | 9100 | 13'650 | 9200 | 13'800 |
| 02 | Riley-Ford Special Sprint Car | 1935 | Yes | 15'000 | 20'000 | 13'650 | 18'200 | 13'800 | 18'400 |
| 03 | Studebaker Model M5 1/2-Ton Pickup | 1941 | Yes | 15'000 | 20'000 | 13'650 | 18'200 | 13'800 | 18'400 |
| 04 | Packard Six 115-C Convertible Coupe | 1937 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 22'750 | 31'850 | 23'000 | 32'200 |
| 05 | Ford Model TT Fire Truck | 1924 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 06 | Austin-Healey 100/6 BN4 | 1957 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 | 27'600 | 36'800 |
| 07 | Ford Model A Roadster | 1928 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 08 | White Model GA Coupe | 1910 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 09 | DeSoto S-1 Airstream Custom New York Taxi | 1936 | Yes | 15'000 | 20'000 | 13'650 | 18'200 | 13'800 | 18'400 |
| 10 | Ford V8 Deluxe Cabriolet | 1937 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 11 | Rolls-Royce 20/25 Saloon | 1933 | Yes | 50'000 | 80'000 | 45'500 | 72'800 | 46'000 | 73'600 |
| 12 | Stutz Model G Roadster | 1919 | Yes | 80'000 | 120'000 | 72'800 | 109'200 | 73'600 | 110'400 |
| 13 | LaSalle Series 350 Coupe | 1934 | Yes | 40'000 | 50'000 | 36'400 | 45'500 | 36'800 | 46'000 |
| 14 | Ford Model A Tudor | 1930 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 13'650 | 22'750 | 13'800 | 23'000 |
| 15 | Mercury Comet Caliente | 1964 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 16 | Pierce-Arrow Model 38 C-4 Open-Front French Brougham | 1917 | Yes | 70'000 | 90'000 | 63'700 | 81'900 | 64'400 | 82'800 |
| 17 | Packard Super Eight 1703 Convertible Sedan | 1939 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 18 | Jaguar XK120 Roadster | 1953 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 19 | Packard Twin Six 1-25 Seven-Passenger Touring | 1916 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 20 | Lincoln Model L Sport Roadster | 1930 | Yes | 140'000 | 180'000 | 127'400 | 163'800 | 128'800 | 165'600 |
| 21 | Mercury Monterey Convertible | 1953 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 | 27'600 | 36'800 |
| 22 | Duesenberg Model A Touring | 1926 | Yes | 120'000 | 150'000 | 109'200 | 136'500 | 110'400 | 138'000 |
| 23 | Pope-Hartford Model B Rear-Entrance Tonneau | 1904 | Yes | 75'000 | 100'000 | 68'250 | 91'000 | 69'000 | 92'000 |
| 24 | Stutz Series M Tonneau Cowl Speedster | 1929 | Yes | 125'000 | 150'000 | 113'750 | 136'500 | 115'000 | 138'000 |
| 25 | Ford V8 Model 40 Sport Saloon | 1934 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 22'750 | 31'850 | 23'000 | 32'200 |
| 26 | Hillegass-HAL Sprint Car | 1948 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 13'650 | 22'750 | 13'800 | 23'000 |
| 27 | Chrysler CG Imperial Custom Roadster | 1932 | Yes | 800'000 | 1'200'000 | 728'000 | 1'092'000 | 736'000 | 1'104'000 |
| 28 | Studebaker President Eight Roadster | 1929 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 29 | Ford Model K Touring | 1907 | Yes | 175'000 | 250'000 | 159'250 | 227'500 | 161'000 | 230'000 |
| 30 | Locomobile Model 48 Sedan | 1925 | Yes | 50'000 | 70'000 | 45'500 | 63'700 | 46'000 | 64'400 |
| 31 | Gerhardt-Ford Indy Car | 1965 | Yes | 75'000 | 100'000 | 68'250 | 91'000 | 69'000 | 92'000 |
| 32 | Brewster Coupe Roadster | 1935 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 91'000 | 136'500 | 92'000 | 138'000 |
| 33 | Chrysler Town and Country Newport | 1950 | Yes | 40'000 | 50'000 | 36'400 | 45'500 | 36'800 | 46'000 |
| 34 | Porsche 911 | 1966 | Yes | 75'000 | 100'000 | 68'250 | 91'000 | 69'000 | 92'000 |
| 35 | Ford V8 Pickup | 1934 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 | 27'600 | 36'800 |
| 36 | Mercedes-Benz 500 K Offener Tourenwagen | 1934 | Yes | 1'250'000 | 1'750'000 | 1'137'500 | 1'592'500 | 1'150'000 | 1'610'000 |
| 37 | Ford Model T Town Car | 1917 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 22'750 | 31'850 | 23'000 | 32'200 |
| 38 | Dodge Custom Roadster | 1922 | Yes | 25'000 | 35'000 | 22'750 | 31'850 | 23'000 | 32'200 |
| 39 | Cadillac Model 30 Four-Passenger Demi-Tonneau | 1910 | Yes | 70'000 | 90'000 | 63'700 | 81'900 | 64'400 | 82'800 |
| 40 | Boles-Aero 14' Aluminum Travel Trailer | 1948 | Yes | 10'000 | 20'000 | 9100 | 18'200 | 9200 | 18'400 |
| 41 | Mercer Series 5 Sporting | 1922 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 42 | Packard Model EC Fire Engine | 1923 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 27'300 | 45'500 | 27'600 | 46'000 |
| 43 | Graham Model 110 Supercharger Touring Sedan | 1936 | Yes | 10'000 | 15'000 | 9100 | 13'650 | 9200 | 13'800 |
| 44 | Ford Model T Speedster | 1924 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 45 | Lincoln-Zephyr 'Twin Grille' Custom Sedan | 1937 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 27'300 | 45'500 | 27'600 | 46'000 |
| 46 | KB Special Midget Racer | 1948 | Yes | 10'000 | 15'000 | 9100 | 13'650 | 9200 | 13'800 |
| 47 | Pierce-Arrow Model 38 C-4 Five-Passenger Touring | 1916 | Yes | 70'000 | 90'000 | 63'700 | 81'900 | 64'400 | 82'800 |
| 48 | Ford Model BB House Car | 1934 | Yes | 10'000 | 20'000 | 9100 | 18'200 | 9200 | 18'400 |
| 49 | Lancia Aurelia B20S GT Series VI | 1958 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 91'000 | 136'500 | 92'000 | 138'000 |
| 50 | Packard Model 30 Town Car | 1907 | Yes | 125'000 | 175'000 | 113'750 | 159'250 | 115'000 | 161'000 |
| 51 | GMC Pickup | 1934 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 13'650 | 22'750 | 13'800 | 23'000 |
| 52 | REO Five-Passenger Detachable Tonneau | 1905 | Yes | 15'000 | 20'000 | 13'650 | 18'200 | 13'800 | 18'400 |
| 53 | Bentley S1 Continental Flying Spur | 1958 | Yes | 100'000 | 130'000 | 91'000 | 118'300 | 92'000 | 119'600 |
| 54 | Lincoln KB Seven-Passenger Touring | 1934 | Yes | 130'000 | 160'000 | 118'300 | 145'600 | 119'600 | 147'200 |
| 55 | Studebaker Gran Turismo Hawk R2 | 1964 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 56 | Packard Twelve 1108 Town Car | 1934 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 57 | Ford Model T Coupelet | 1915 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 13'650 | 22'750 | 13'800 | 23'000 |
| 58 | LaSalle Series 350 Convertible Coupe | 1934 | Yes | 50'000 | 75'000 | 45'500 | 68'250 | 46'000 | 69'000 |
| 59 | White Model G 'Roi des Belges' Touring | 1907 | Yes | 250'000 | 350'000 | 227'500 | 318'500 | 230'000 | 322'000 |
| 60 | Studebaker President Roadster | 1935 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 61 | Packard Twin Six Model 2-25 Four-Passenger Brougham | 1917 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 27'300 | 45'500 | 27'600 | 46'000 |
| 62 | Stutz Series M Cabriolet | 1929 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 63 | Midget Racer | 1948 | Yes | 5000 | 10'000 | 4550 | 9100 | 4600 | 9200 |
| 64 | Rolls-Royce Phantom I Riviera Town Car | 1933 | Yes | 175'000 | 250'000 | 159'250 | 227'500 | 161'000 | 230'000 |
| 65 | Studebaker Victoria Buggy | 1900 | Yes | 5000 | 10'000 | 4550 | 9100 | 4600 | 9200 |
| 66 | Lincoln Model L Club Roadster | 1928 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 67 | AC Ace Bristol | 1959 | Yes | 150'000 | 200'000 | 136'500 | 182'000 | 138'000 | 184'000 |
| 68 | Brewster Model 91 Town Brougham | 1923 | Yes | 60'000 | 80'000 | 54'600 | 72'800 | 55'200 | 73'600 |
| 69 | Ford Model A Roadster | 1929 | Yes | 15'000 | 25'000 | 13'650 | 22'750 | 13'800 | 23'000 |
| 70 | Packard Single Eight 136 Sport Model | 1924 | Yes | 80'000 | 100'000 | 72'800 | 91'000 | 73'600 | 92'000 |
| 71 | Babcock Model H Seven-Passenger Touring | 1912 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 72 | Bentley 3 1/2 Litre Drophead Coupe Antem | 1935 | Yes | 250'000 | 350'000 | 227'500 | 318'500 | 230'000 | 322'000 |
| 73 | American Austin Roadster | 1930 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 74 | Ford Model A Runabout | 1903 | Yes | 100'000 | 150'000 | 91'000 | 136'500 | 92'000 | 138'000 |
| 75 | Chevrolet Corvette 327/340 Roadster | 1963 | Yes | 70'000 | 90'000 | 63'700 | 81'900 | 64'400 | 82'800 |
| 76 | Cadillac Model 51 Roadster | 1915 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 77 | Chevrolet Series V Superior Coupe | 1926 | Yes | 12'000 | 18'000 | 10'920 | 16'380 | 11'040 | 16'560 |
| 78 | Packard Deluxe Eight 745 Roadster | 1930 | Yes | 90'000 | 120'000 | 81'900 | 109'200 | 82'800 | 110'400 |
| 79 | Ford Model T Roadster | 1920 | Yes | 15'000 | 20'000 | 13'650 | 18'200 | 13'800 | 18'400 |
| 80 | Cadillac Model 30 Custom Pickup | 1913 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 27'300 | 45'500 | 27'600 | 46'000 |
| 81 | Ford V8 Deluxe Convertible Coupe | 1939 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 82 | Ford Model A Station Wagon | 1930 | Yes | 20'000 | 30'000 | 18'200 | 27'300 | 18'400 | 27'600 |
| 83 | Packard Super Eight 1104 Convertible Coupe | 1934 | Yes | 40'000 | 60'000 | 36'400 | 54'600 | 36'800 | 55'200 |
| 84 | Pierce-Arrow Model C Travelodge | 1937 | Yes | 5000 | 10'000 | 4550 | 9100 | 4600 | 9200 |
| 85 | Ford Model A Popcorn Wagon | 1928 | Yes | 30'000 | 50'000 | 27'300 | 45'500 | 27'600 | 46'000 |
| 86 | Peugeot Bébé | 1913 | Yes | 3000 | 5000 | 2730 | 4550 | 2760 | 4600 |
| 87 | Chevrolet International Series AC Fire Truck | 1929 | Yes | 30'000 | 40'000 | 27'300 | 36'400 | 27'600 | 36'800 |
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
