Marshall, Texas (April 20, 2007) – RM Auctions is set to confirm that everything is bigger and better in Texas when it heads to the Lone Star State this weekend to sell the private collection of Gene Ponder, founder of H.I.G. Capital. The two-day auction, held on the Ponder Estate in Marshall, Texas, will feature more than 60 vintage European and American automobiles, and nearly 1,000 lots of auto memorabilia, all of which will be offered to collectors without reserve.
“Selling my collection is all part of redirecting my priorities,” says Ponder. “I have reached an age where it is time to pass along these wonderful vehicles; to entrust the cars and collectibles to a new generation who will appreciate and enjoy them as I have.”
Ponder’s private collection is comprised largely of sports cars, with a particular focus on British, Italian and French autos from the 1930s through the 1950s. It also includes no less than 15 rare MG models, including a 1935 MG NB Six-Cylinder Airline Coupe, considered the most beautiful of all MGs ever built.
Rarity also is the hallmark of the 1951 Bugatti Type 101 Supercharged Coupe, the last true Bugatti ever built and the star of the 1951 Paris Auto Salon. This highly original and striking Van Antem bodied automobile has graced the former collections of impresario Bill Harrah and Academy Award winning actor, Nicolas Cage. The two-toned red and black supercharged Bugatti 101 has been sympathetically maintained by its succession of careful owners and represents the final design of one of the world’s great marques. (Estimate: $500,000 - $800,000)
Mr. Ponder’s 1953 Aston Martin DB 2/4 Roadster, with custom coachwork by Bertone, is a one-off created for Charles Ward, president of Brown & Bigelow Corp. It bears his raised initials on the car’s wire wheel centers and sports a complete picnic setup in lieu of one of its rear seats. This unique Aston Martin smashed sales records when it topped $1 million at the Monterey Auction in the 1980s. Recently, it has been completely restored by one of the world’s foremost Aston Martin experts. (Estimate: $500,000 - $600,000)
Another incredible vehicle is the 1953 Bertone-bodied Bentley; the only Bentley Bertone ever built. It started its life as Bertone’s show car for the London Auto Show in 1953 and was custom made for Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt, a Chicago industrialist perhaps best known for his Arnolt-Bristol creations. The world’s only Bentley Bertone features personal touches like Wacky’s silver liquor flasks and his wife’s makeup case fitted under the picnic tables behind its front seats. (Estimate: $250,000 - $350,000)
Five Jaguars, five Ferraris, and many other pristine American examples, including a ’57 Thunderbird, a ’57 Corvette Roadster, a 1937 Cord 812SC Phaeton, and a beautiful 1931 Deusenberg Model SJ Boattail Speedster will also be offered.
Ponder’s vast collection of over 1,000 lots of auto memorabilia varies widely, including everything from artwork, posters, signage, model airplanes and racing trophies, to rare model cars and a selection of exquisite bronzes.
“This remarkable, carefully assembled 20-year collection of cars and memorabilia is sure to delight classic and sports car enthusiasts,” says RM Auctions founder Rob Myers. “It represents a golden opportunity for those looking to add to their own collections or perhaps acquire the cornerstone of a new collection.”
RM Auctions’ Gene Ponder Collection sale will be held at the Ponder Estate, 4801 Victory Drive in Marshall, Texas. Activities begin Thursday, April 19th with pre-auction viewing from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The two-day auction begins Friday, April 20th and concludes on Saturday, April 21st. Sale hours begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at 7:00 p.m. both days.
Admission to the Gene Ponder Collection sale is by catalog only, which admits both the catalog holder and a guest. An auction catalog is available for $80 U.S., including shipping and handling within North America, by calling 800-211-4371.
Additional information on specific vehicles, advance bidder registration, absentee and telephone bids and auction terms and conditions are available at:
www.rmauctions.com Or call toll free: (800) 211-4373
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