Two Ferrari 400 Superamericas are headlining RM Sotheby’s The Andrews Collection car sale in Fort Worth but American classics will be the true highlights. A 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabrioloet is estimated to sell for more than $7 million while a 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico is expecting to achieve $3.5 million. However, the sale will feature an unusually high number of top-end American classics amongst the 20 cars estimated to achieve in excess of a million dollars including two Duesenbergs, four Packards and two Cadillacs from the 1930s, racing cars from the 1960s and two very special American show cars from the 1950s.
The RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection Auction in Forth Worth
The Andrews Collection Auction is one of the most-eagerly anticipated classic car sales of 2015. The auction arranged by RM Sotheby’s will offer 78 vehicles from the Paul & Chris Andrews private automobile collection with just over a quarter of the cars expecting to achieve results of a million dollar or more.
The Andrews Collection sale is arguable the most significant private automobile collection ever offered at a single-vendor sale. The auction will be held on May 2, 2015, in Fort Worth, Texas. All cars are sold without reserve but no one expects that to make any difference to the results at such a prestigious and well-advertised auction.
Million Dollar Cars at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection Sale
The following 20 cars will be offered at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection Auction with upper estimates of a million dollars or more:
| Year | Car | Estimate |
| 1962 | Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pininfarina | $7,000,000 – $8,500,000 |
| 1963 | Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico by Pininfarina | $3,500,000 – $4,500,000 |
| 1935 | Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car by Bohman & Schwartz | $3,400,000 – $4,500,000 |
| 1931 | Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Convertible Coupe by Murphy | $2,500,000 – $3,000,000 |
| 1934 | Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich | $2,400,000 – $3,000,000 |
| 1962 | Shelby 289 Competition Cobra | $2,200,000 – $2,600,000 |
| 1962 | Chevrolet Corvette “Gulf Oil” Race Car | $2,000,000 – $2,750,000 |
| 1934 | Packard Twelve Sport Coupe by LeBaron | $1,600,000 – $2,500,000 |
| 1953 | Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Bertone | $1,400,000 – $1,800,000 |
| 1938 | Packard Eight Cabriolet by Graber | $1,400,000 – $1,800,000 |
| 1955 | Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner | $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 |
| 1959 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 |
| 1955 | Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study by Boano | $1,250,000 – $1,600,000 |
| 1934 | Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich | $1,200,000 – $1,600,000 |
| 1930 | Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan by Murphy | $1,000,000 – $1,400,000 |
| 1965 | Chevrolet Corvette Demonstration Stand | $1,000,000 – $1,400,000 |
| 1953 | Cunningham C3 Coupe by Vignale | $900,000 – $1,200,000 |
| 1965 | Shelby GT350 R | $850,000 – $1,000,000 |
| 1910 | Pierce-Arrow Model 48-SS Demi-Tonneau | $800,000 – $1,100,000 |
| 1935 | Cadillac V-16 Imperial Convertible Sedan by Fleetwood | $750,000 – $1,000,000 |
Ferrari 400s at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection Sale
The two top results expected at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection Auction in Fort Worth are likely to be for the two Ferrari 400s on offer.
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet
The headline car in the Andrews Collection sale is the magnificent 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pininfarina. This Ferrari was the final of only seven short wheelbase Superamericas built and was the 1962 Geneva and New York show car. It comes with factory covered headlights and a removable hard top.
The 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet in a superbly restored condition is estimated to achieved $7,000,000 to $8,50,000. RM Sotheby’s sold a dark green 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet for just over $6 million at the 2015 Amelia Island sale.
1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico
The second highest result at the Andrews Collection sale is expected from a 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico by Pininfarina. The car on offer was the 32nd of the 35 Superamericas built and the 15th of the 18 long-wheelbase cars.
The 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico is meticulously restored in its original Grigio Argento over red leather colors. It was a platinum winner at the 2011 Cavalliono Classic.
The 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico has an estimate of $3,500,000 to $4,500,000. A short-wheelbase 400 Coupe sold for just over $4 million at the 2015 Gooding Scottsdale sale.
1930s American Classic Cars at the Andrews Collection Auction
Several American classic cars from the 1930s are expected to sell for more than a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection sale in Fort Worth. Some of these pre-War American classics are amongst the most impressive one-off designs ever built.
1930s Duesenbergs at The Andrews Collection Sale
Two Duesenbers are expecting to achieve the highest results for American cars at the Andrews Collection auction:
1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car by Bohman & Schwartz
The 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car by Bohman & Schwartz (estimate $3,400,000 – $4,500,000) was one of the most-expensive and most-extravagant Duesenberg cars ever built. It was originally designed for Mae West but ultimately built for Ethel Mars from the confectionary family.
1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy
The 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Convertible Coupe by Murphy (estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000) has been painstakingly restored in recent years and won Best in Class at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It participated in the 1000-miles Duesenberg Tours in Texas (2010) and Virginia (2014).
1930s Packards at the Andrews Collection Auction
Four 1930s Packards are expected to sell in excess of a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection sale including three 1934 Packard Twelve models:
- The 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich (estimate $2,400,000 – $3,000,000) is one of five known survivors. The fully restored car debuted at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it was awarded with a First in Class, the CCCA Award of Excellence, and the Most Elegant Closed Car.
- The 1934 Packard Twelve Sport Coupe by LeBaron (estimate $1,600,000 to $2,500,000) was the 1934 New York show car and the last of only four built.
- The 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich (estimate $1,200,000 to $1,600,000) is in a beautifully restored condition and has won amongst others a Best in Class at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and an Amelia Award at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in 2011.
The 1938 Packard Eight Cabriolet by Graber (estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000) was the 1938 Geneva Auto Salon show car and has a one-off Swiss coachwork with pontoon fenders more typical of French cars from this period. In unrestored condition, it was shown in the Prewar Preservation class at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and returned a year later restored to win Best in Class.
1930s Cadillacs at the Andrews Collection Auction
Two Cadillacs from the 1930s are expected to achieve in excess of a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection sale:
- The 1930 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan by Murphy (estimate $1,000,000 – $1,400,000) wears a one-off, custom California coachwork.
- The 1935 Cadillac V-16 Imperial Convertible Sedan by Fleetwood (estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000) is one of only six built and was originally owned by the Ely Lilly pharmaceutical family.
American Racing Cars at the Andrews Collection Sale
Several classic American racing cars are expected to sell for more than a million dollar the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection auction:
- The 1962 Shelby 289 Competition Cobra (estimate $2,200,000 – $2,600,000) was the first racing-specification Shelby Cobra sold to the public. This classic is incredibly well preserved and in period livery.
- The 1962 Chevrolet Corvette “Gulf Oil” Race Car (estimate $2,000,000 – $2,750,000) is one of the most important Corvette racing cars. Driven by the Dick Thompson for Grady Davis’s Gulf Oil Racing team, the car won 12 of 14 SCCA races to become the 1962 SCCA A/Production champion.
- The 1965 Shelby GT350 R (estimate $850,000 – $1,000,000) is one of 36 built. It was first in class at the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring race. It is presented in its 1967 AARC racing livery.
Million-Dollar Show Cars at the Andrews Collection Sale
Two American show cars are expected to sell for over a million dollar at the Andrews Collection auction:
1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study by Boano
The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study by Boano (estimate $1,250,000 – $1,600,000) was presented at the 1955 Turin Motor Show and reportedly used by Boano to get a special deal with Fiat after Ford had offered him a contract. The car subsequently belonged to Henry Ford II, who, according to rumors, gave it to Errol Flynn. It won several concourse awards in recent years including the Lincoln Trophy at Pebble Beach in 2013.
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Demonstration Stand
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Demonstration Stand (estimate $1,000,000 – $1,400,000) was used on the 1965 show circuit to demonstrate the new Corvette. It was built from an authentic road-ready 1965 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe. Little is known about the demonstration stands’ post-show history, or how it ended up in South Africa where it was discovered during the mid-1990s. It is in a restored and highly original condition including the original tires.
Other Million-Dollar Cars at the Andrews Collection Sale
A few further million-dollar cars are offered at the RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection classic car auction:
- The 1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 48-SS Demi-Tonneau (estimate $800,000 – $1,100,000) is the oldest car expected to reach a million dollars at the auction. It is considered to be the only surviving model with a Demi-Tonneau body style.
- The 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Bertone (estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000) is the most-expensive British car offered at the auction. The car is one of only two built to this specific design and is a three-time Pebble Beach award winner.
- The 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner (estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000) is one of only 207 Continental built as the ideal gentleman’s driving machine.
- The 1953 Cunningham C3 Coupe by Vignale (estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000) was the factory prototype and the first of only 18 coupes ever built.
© Darin Schnabel / RM Sotheby’s The 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000) is the only Mercedes Benz car in the sale, although a few model cars are also on offer. This finely restored 300 SL won Best in Class at the 2004 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
The Superamericas on offer at the Andrews Collection sale are almost certainly going to be some of the most-expensive cars sold at public auction in 2015. RM Sothey’s Villa Erba auction in Italy on May 23, 2015 will also feature some spectacular Ferraris.