Auction Results: RM’s sale at St. John’s

RM Auctions held its traditional late summer Detroit-area auction in conjunction with the Concours of America (formerly known as the Meadow Brook Concours). RM has conducted this sale for well over a decade, and results were below recent efforts. In all, 62 of 74 automotive lots sold for $6.8 million. This is 10 percent below last year, and well off of 2010’s $10.2 million effort.

Despite the lower results, the top sale of the event was an absolutely beautiful 1930 Duesenberg SJ Convertible Victoria that sold for $957,000, including commission. With coachwork by Rollston and ownership history that includes band leader Paul Whiteman of “Rhapsody in Blue” fame, the car was a relative bargain at just over the auction company’s low estimate. Other interesting sales include Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac V-8, which sold for $341,000, a custom 1948 Hudson Commodore woody station wagon that went for an eye-popping $159,500, and a 1914 Detroit Electric Model 46 roadster that found a new home for $99,000.

The top 10 includes:

1. 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Victoria sold for $957,000
2. 1933 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe sold for $385,000
3. 1931 Cord L-29 La Grande Boattail Speedster recreation sold for $368,500
4. 1937 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster sold for $352,000
5. 1928 Cadillac V-8 “Al Capone” Town Sedan sold for $341,000
6. 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria sold for $275,000
7. 1936 Cadillac V-16 Town Sedan sold for $247,500
8. 1925 Ahrens-Fox N-S-4 Triple Combination Pumper sold for $198,000
9. 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sport Saloon sold for $192,500
10. 1911 Stanley Model 63 Toy Tonneau sold for $165,000
    1931 Cadillac Model 355-A 2/4-Passenger Convertible Coupe sold for $165,000

RM returns to action in Nysted, Denmark, on Aug. 12, 2012, with a sale of the AalholmAutomobil Museum’s collection. The company’s next U.S. sale will be held on Aug. 17, 2012, in Monterey, Calif.