There’s gold in scrap metal if it has the right shape and provenance. A collection of crashed classic cars and rusting motoring memorabilia was sold for millions of dollars at an RM Sotheby’s auction held in the US at the weekend.
Eager collectors snapped up over 200 lots of rare rusting hulks, body parts and mechanical components at The Junkyard: The Rudi Klein Collection auction in Los Angeles, California. Klein, who died in 2001, had since 1967 amassed an automotive trove of crash-damaged sports cars and components in his Los Angeles scrapyard. Known for a discerning eye and passion for rare and unique cars, Klein’s collection had long been a well-kept secret, with only rumours of its existence swirling around certain collectors’ circles. Some were significant models long thought lost or destroyed.
The collection was auctioned after sitting mostly untouched for decades, and the rusting rarities are ready to be restored to their former glory by their new owners.
The star of the auction was an unrestored but largely intact 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Alloy” Gullwing which sold for $9,355,000 (R164m). It was a competition car fitted with a lightweight alloy body compared to its steel-bodied brethren, with a more powerful 3.0l engine, sports suspension, lightweight wheels and a Plexiglas rear window and side screens. What makes it so valuable is that only 29 units were produced. Aside from being repainted silver, the auctioned vehicle is unrestored with its original interior, body, engine, gearbox, rear axle, steering box and front spindles.
Another restoration-ready Mercedes SL, a 1957 Roadster, was knocked down for $1,187,500 (R21m).
Other highlights of the auction included a dented but largely intact 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone that sold for $1,325,000 (R23.4m), and a 1962 Porsche 356 B 1600 “Twin-Grille” Roadster by D'Ieteren which sold for $1,160,000 (R20.5m).
There were several cars that were little more than scrap heaps including a 960 Porsche 356 B 1600 S Roadster by Drauz sold for $70,000 (R1.2m), a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman that went for $67,200 (R1.9m) and a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC by Pininfarina that sold for R$50,400 (R892,000).
A Ferrari 275 V12 engine block and cylinder head sold for $42,000 (R743,000).
Perhaps some of these rarities will emerge fully restored in concourses d’elegance over the coming years, their prices hiked to even more exotic levels.
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