55th Annual Auburn Auction & Show August 28-30 - Labor Day Weekend Recap Highlights
Landmark 2004 Ford GT Prototype CP4/007 and stunning early production
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupe among the notable sales
Click here to view full results
Worldwide Auctioneers hosted its annual fall sale at home in Auburn, Indiana over the weekend of August 28-30, a Labor Day weekend tradition that has drawn collectors and enthusiasts to the ‘Home of the Classics’ for decades.
Three hundred vehicles went under the hammer in a packed salesroom over the three-day sale, with strong results across the board reflecting the diversity of consignments in an auction that offered something for everyone. Sales highlights included a landmark 2004 Ford GT Prototype CP4/007 that brought $775,000, the first Ford GT Prototype to hit 200 MPH in testing and one of as few as four remaining in existence.
No less arresting and indeed rare was a meticulously restored and impeccably documented 1940 BMW 328 Roadster that sold for $491,750, with superb coachwork thought to be one of the first five or six prototypes constructed by Touring of Milan. The auction’s cover car, a stunning early production 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ Coupe sold post-block for an undisclosed sum.
The 55th Annual Auburn Auction & Show recorded a total sale of just over $20 million, with 80% of consignments finding new homes. Attendees also got the chance to experience a host of outstanding participant and spectator events staged as part of the celebrated long-running Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.
Other notable sales included a beautifully restored 1968 Iso Griffo GL Series I that realized $346,000, the perfect marriage of American horsepower and Italian styling. Modern sports car enthusiasts were treated to an outstanding offering, including a remarkably low-mileage, one-owner 2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS finished in Racing Yellow that sold for $417,500, with a very desirable Jet Black 2003 BMW Z8 Alpina Roadster bringing $266,000. Significant American sports cars included a 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback finished in factory original colors that brought $335,000. Among the exceptional pre-war automobiles on offer was a stately 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Newmarket Faux Cabriolet with Coachwork by Brewster that sold for $351,500. The auction also showcased the A.W. Philmont Collection, a curated collection of 26 iconic European sports cars and American classics that was well-received and sold exceptionally well. The Auburn Auction also offered a daily selection of some of the best memorabilia to be found.
Charitable causes were again well served. Worldwide was honored to continue its custom of auctioning the Catholic Charities Retired Senior Volunteer Program’s hand-made quilt, this year a commemorative 40th annual tribute to the rich history of the ACD Museum and the 1985 Auburn Car Show & Auctions. Extremely generous bidding resulted in it selling and being donated back no less than three times, realizing an outstanding $16,000 for the charity’s projects. A very engaging and highly collectible 1919 Cleveland “Strap Tank” Single Motorcycle was also auctioned for charity, with proceeds benefiting liver research at Children’s Hospital Colorado. A wonderful 1:18 scale model of a Mercedes-Benz Gullwing by Hanging Cars also sold in Auburn, the brainchild of two young entrepreneur brothers, realizing $5,000 with all proceeds going to Care Portal to help vulnerable children and families stay together.
“Terrific energy, a standing-room-only salesroom and very active bidding across all channels throughout brought a great set of results across the board,” said John Kruse, Principal and Auctioneer. “Thanks to everyone who joined us again in Auburn and helped keep a celebrated Labor Day tradition alive.”
The 55th Annual Auburn Auction & Show was open to the public as well as to collectors, and attendees also enjoyed an on-site marketplace of hand-picked automotive lifestyle vendors, car corral and swap meet.
