Auction Recap: Auctions America Auburn Fall 2016
Auctions America hosts two Auburn auctions every year, and the autumn sale takes place the week before Labor Day. The Auburn, Ind., sales typically feature classic and modern, as well as affordable and expensive, cars. This year was no different. Auctions America finished the week with $20.7 million in total sales this year, with an average sale price of $35,863 and a sell-through rate of 69 percent. This was a notable increase over last year’s $19.15 million despite fewer cars being offered (842 in 2016 vs 863 in 2015).
The highest sales were mostly made up of prewar machinery or 1950s American classics. Two Duesenberg Model Js – a Murphy-bodied Convertible Sedan and a gorgeous Franay-bodied Sunroof Beline once owned by socialite Mabel Boll – were by far the most expensive lots at $880,000 and $715,000, respectively. The biggest no-sales, meanwhile, were two Shelby 289 Cobras at high bids of $800,000 and $700,000, respectively. Porsches also fared poorly: Only six of the 16 on offer sold successfully.
The AA Auburn sales have always been a good place for enthusiasts shopping on a tighter budget, and affordable but fun cars this year included a rare 1942 Crosley CB42 Convertible Sedan for $4,620, a very handsome and unusual Moretti-bodied 1970 Fiat 500 for $5,170, a 1980 Triumph TR8 for $11,550 and a 1962 Saab 95 panel van for $16,775.
Overall top 10:
1. 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan sold for $880,000
2. 1933 Duesenberg Model J Sunroof Berline sold for $715,000
3. 1931 Cadillac V-12 Convertible Coupe sold for $368,500
4. Mechanimals Mechanical Elephant sold for $275,000
5. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Restomod Coupe sold for $236,500
6. 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton sold for $236,500
7. 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible sold for $220,000
8. 1929 Auburn 8-90 Speedster sold for $187,000
9. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette sold for $181,500
10. 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible sold for $177,100
Auctions America’s next collector car auction will be in Hilton Head, S.C., on November 5, 2016.
