The non-multi-million-dollar cars of RM

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Many of the classic car magazines and websites trumpet about the sheer number of exotics found for sale with RM Auctions at Monterey (12-14 August) and it must be said that the number of multi-million dollar cars on offer there is indeed astounding. From the pre-war point of view alone you’ll find stuff here that is worthy of the poshest of events. Packards and Cadillacs from the 1920s and 1930s, Rolls-Royces and Duesenbergs previously owned by the rich and famous, Alfa-Romeo and Delage Grand Prix cars with wonderful histories and coachbuilt star cars that won’t look out of place at the most prestigious golf course-turned-car concourses.

1910 AC Sociable

For us, it’s reason to emphasise the perhaps slightly less well-heeled automobiles. We found a number of pre-war AC’s that come from one and the same collection and they all seem very desirable in our eyes although not much of their histories is mentioned. But with no reserve and estimates that seem fair, they don’t even come close to the million dollar cars from this sale on which the mainstream media focuses. There’s a 1910 AC Sociable to start with, just like the one today’s Friday Lady can be seen in. The Sociable is one quintessentially quirky vehicle – it represents the start of AC (Auto Carrier – that’s what this is) as a single-cylinder, chain-driven, tiller steered three-wheeler. It is a rare survivor in older restoration form and looks lovely in burgundy over black if you ask us.

AC

Further in chronological order, we have a 1928 AC 16/56 Six ‘Royal Roadster’ with its 56hp six-in-line and brakes on all four wheels and a 1935 16/60 ‘Greyhound’ Saloon, again with a six-cylinder engine that underwent a full renovation after the aluminium block had been cracked. There’s a 1937 16/70 Drophead Coupe, again with AC’s well-known six-cylinder – now good for 70hp and three SUs – which seats four on blue leather. The top-of-the-range model from these pre-war AC’s is the 1938 16/90 Two-Seater Competition Sports, which is believed to be one of only five examples equipped originally with Arnott supercharger and the car seen at the 1938 London Motor Show. The Cobra of the days before WW2? Its estimate is about 10 times that of the 16/56 ‘Royal Roadster’ but still pocket money compared to some of the Astons and Ferraris that will be talked about the most...

Words by Jeroen Booij. Pictures courtesy of RM Sotheby's.

Aggiunga un commento...