San Francisco, CA - Each August an estimated 50,000 people from every corner of the globe descend upon a quaint seaside area of California for what's unofficially known as the 10-day Monterey Peninsula Car Week, or Pebble Beach Week.
A standout among this delicious menu of activities is the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction of Collector Cars which will be held at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley on Friday, August 17th. This year Bonhams will be offering a delectable array of cars from vintage roadsters, to Formula 1 racers, to muscle cars and historic tourers, including what's billed as the "oldest known Cadillac in existence."
This 1903 Cadillac Model A Runabout, serial number 13, was purchased by Mr. Thomas, owner of the Thomas Winery in Cucamonga, California - the state's oldest winery, founded in 1839. Records show that this car was the first Cadillac shipped west of the Mississippi and the first sold in California. It stayed at the winery for 70 years before it was sold in 1973 to collector Patrick Herman.
Herman recalls buying the car from Thomas' great-granddaughter and transporting back to his home. In 1985, the car was placed in the care of master restorer Herman Stroebel who handled it mechanical restoration. Other specialists tackled the body, paintwork and upholstery.
This transformed the 1903 Cadillac into an award winner that's dazzled crowds and garnered awards. It was the Junior and Senior AACA winner, a 1997 Grand Champion AACA Award winner, and on its first outing, a Hershey National Meet winner. This early creation of America's iconic luxury builder is expected to bring $300,000 to $350,000 at the auction.
This year's consignments also include over two-dozen American muscle cars from a single private collection. Buyers will feast on 12 Corvettes (nine of them Stingrays), five Chevelles, three Camaros, three Mustangs, a rare Hemi Cuda Convertible and more. This collection is expected to ring up as much as $6-million in sales.
"With their raw power and styling, muscle cars represent the epitome of the American automotive way of life," said Mark Osborne, head of Bonhams' U.S. motoring department.
Having so many well-heeled international car enthusiasts converge on the Quail at once, all with the desire to take home an exclusive collector car, usually helps to make the bidding quite competitive. The auction organizers at Bonham's have worked to make sure there will be a range of cars that appeal to collectors with different interests.
This year's line up will include:
1907 Packard Model 30 Runabout
The ex-President Herbert Hoover 1932 Cadillac 452B V-16 Imperial Fleetwood Limousine
1938 Talbot T120 Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi
The ex-Sydney Allard/Jack Fairman Le Mans 1952 Allard-Chrysler/Cadillac J2X racing roadster, offered for the first time since 1953
1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda convertible (1 of 4 ever made)
These are just a few of the varied and exquisite cars Bonhams will offer. The international Bonhams auction at Quail Lodge is ready to make history once again.
For more information contact the Bonhams & Butterfields Motoring Department.
E-mails can be sent to
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or calls may be made to the following individuals:
Mark Osborne, Motoring Department Director, 415-391-4000
Andrew Reilly, Motoring Department Specialist, 415-391-4000
Nick Smith, Motoring Department Specialist, 323-436-5470
Malcolm Barber, CEO, 415-391-4000
For general information about Bonhams and its 50 specialist departments worldwide, visit
www.bonhams.com .
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