RARE DUESENBERG AND CADILLAC BRING OVER A MILLION
RM Auctions Sells "The McMullen Collection"
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Michael Rose,
Monday, June 11 2007
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 Lapeer, MI, June 9 2007 – A warm June day heated up the bidding as an amazing assortment of autos submitted to the hammer (including a 1931 Deusenberg and a 1930 Cadillac, that both brought in over $1-million) at the sale of noted collector and restorer John McMullen held at his estate in Lapeer Michigan last Saturday.
The product of two decades of selective collecting, The McMullen Collection contained a wide variety of exquisite, show-quality, fully restored autos that represent an array of types, eras and makes. After years of taking top honors at some of the world's most prestigious concours events, McMullen's stable earned the reputation of being among "the best of the best."
"After 20 years of collecting, restoring and competing, I've decided to slow down my pace a little," says McMullen. "That's why I'm paring down the size of my collection to make it more manageable."
McMullen's private collection featured several vehicles that have competed and won at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, including a 1932 Packard 905 Dual-Cowl Phaeton that captured the Most Elegant Car award and brought in $462,000.
An impressive convertible trio in the collection (a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado, a 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta and a 1953 Buick Skylark) all earned high praise and high dollars. The Caddie went for $495,000. The Olds $242,000 and the Buick rolled out for $495,000.
These three cars were General Motors' new "halo" vehicles, representing the ultimate in early '50s luxury, class and styling. Each was hand-assembled at GM and few were produced. Today, the vehicle trio, affectionately known as the 1953 Grand Slam, is considered to be legendary designer Harley Earl's magnum opus.
 Another standout vehicle was the 1930 Cadillac V16 All-Weather Phaeton - the only Murphy-bodied Cadillac V16 still in existence. This magnificent example won a "Best in Class" at Pebble Beach and captured the "Most Significant General Motors Car" award in 2004 at the Meadow Brook Concours was a winner again on Saturday when it sold for $1,056,000.
 A 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourer with coachwork by Derham proved to be another of the collection's shining stars. Originally owned by actor/comedian Joe E. Brown, the car was eventually acquired by Howard Hughes and later restored by noted collector Otis Chandler. One of only seven such examples produced, this car has been exhibited at the Meadow Brook Concours and Eyes on Design and now that a new owners had plopped down $1,485,000 for the pleasure of its company we’re likely to see it again. Another vehicle with celebrity provenance is a charming 1941 Cadillac Derham Towncar, which was purchased new by Hollywood superstar Bette Davis. Now fully restored and in impeccable condition, this Cadillac was made ready for the concours show circuit and went home with someone who fell for its Bette Davis eyes eyes and was willing to pay $198,000 for a driving date with the car of a legend. Now if bidding for a star car was out of reach there were other less celestial autos on hand for the crowd of auto enthusiasts. From an Amphicar to a GTO Tripower, to an obscure 1903 Marble Swift Runabout, Firebird “The Bandit” Special, a couple of Mode A’s and Model T’s and more made sure there was enough variety to rev up any auto lover’s interest. If you couldn’t find a car that lit your fire then you had your eyes closed. "Few personal collections measure up in their entirety to the quality and importance of the cars John McMullen has assembled," says RM Auctions founder Rob Myers. "Each is an investment-quality showpiece that can continue winning awards for new owners on a regular basis." RM Auctions' John McMullen Collection sale was held at the McMullen Estate in Lapeer, Michigan. www.rmauctions.com . Here are the complete results: Lot | Year/Make/Model | High Bid | Results | | 201 | 1960 Cushman Eagle | $8,250 | Sold | | 202 | 1950 Schwinn Whizzer with Sidecar | $9,130 | Sold | | 203 | 1917 Smith Flyer Buckboard | $12,100 | Sold | | 204 | 1948 Harley-Davidson Panhead | $26,400 | Sold | | 205 | 1919 Harley-Davidson Model J w/Sidecar | $23,100 | Sold | | 206 | 1965 Harley-Davidson Electraglide | $19,800 | Sold | | 207 | 1948 Indian Chief | $45,100 | Sold | | 208 | 1923 Harley-Davidson Model WJ w/Sidecar | $29,700 | Sold | | 209 | 1934 John Deere Model B Tractor | $9,350 | Sold | | 210 | 1945 John Deere Model H Tractor | $9,350 | Sold | | 211 | 1900 De Dion-Engined Quadricycle | $77,000 | Sold | | 212 | 1931 Ford Model A Pickup Truck | $26,400 | Sold | | 213 | 1886 Benz Replica | $77,000 | Sold | | 214 | 1928 Oakland All-American Six Landau Sedan Four-Door | $30,800 | Sold | | 215 | 1907 Ford Model R Bee-Tail Roadster | $77,000 | Sold | | 216 | 1910 Hupmobile Model 20 Runabout | $82,500 | Sold | | 217 | 1955 Ford Thunderbird | $55,000 | Sold | | 218 | 1979 Pontiac Trans Am Silver Anniv. | $57,750 | Sold | | 219 | 1941 Graham Hollywood Supercharged Sedan | $85,800 | Sold | | 220 | 1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible | $77,000 | Sold | | 221 | 1932 Ford V8 Cabriolet | $99,000 | Sold | | 222 | 1965 Pontiac GTO Tri-Power Convertible | $286,000 | Sold | | 223 | 1958 Buick Limited Convertible | $236,500 | Sold | | 224 | 1937 Cord 812SC Phaeton | $297,000 | Sold | | 225 | 1903 Cadillac Model A Runabout Rear Entry Tonneau | $148,500 | Sold | | 226 | 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta Convertible | $242,000 | Sold | | 227 | 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible | $495,000 | Sold | | 228 | 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible | $495,000 | Sold | | 229 | 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster | $440,000 | Sold | | 230 | 1979 Pontiac Firebird TransAm Type K | $154,000 | Sold | | 231 | 1906 Cadillac Model M Delivery Wagon | $85,250 | Sold | | 232 | 1911 Ford Model T Torpedo Roadster | $79,750 | Sold | | 233 | 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Two Door Convertible | $71,500 | Sold | | 234 | 1981 Pontiac TransAm "The Bandit" Special Edition | $93,500 | Sold | | 235 | 1931 Ford Model A Victoria | $41,800 | Sold | | 236 | 1912 Marion Bobcat Model 33 Speedster | $165,000 | Sold | | 237 | 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Phaeton by LeBaron | $572,000 | Sold | | 238 | 1930 Cadillac V16 All Weather Phaeton by Murphy | $1,056,000 | Sold | | 239 | 1953 Pontiac Chieftain Ambulance | $41,250 | Sold | | 240 | 1910 K-R-I-T Four Model A Runabout | $66,000 | Sold | | 241 | 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty Special Town Car by Derham | $198,000 | Sold | | 242 | 1915 Oakland Model 37 Roadster | $104,500 | Sold | | 243 | 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Town Car by Brewster | $209,000 | Sold | | 244 | 1915 Ford Model T Roadster | $30,800 | Sold | | 245 | 1902 Oldsmobile Model R Curved Dash Runabout | $66,000 | Sold | | 246 | 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet | $231,000 | Sold | | 247 | 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria by Dietrich | $577,500 | Sold | | 248 | 1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible | $110,000 | Sold | | 249 | 1911 Oakland Model 24 Roadster | $74,250 | Sold | | 250 | 1914 REO Depot Truck | $41,800 | Sold | | 251 | 1928 Pontiac Roadster | $41,250 | Sold | | 252 | 1901 U.S. Long Distance Type "A" Runabout | $46,750 | Sold | | 253 | 1912 Buick Model 43 50 HP Touring | $330,000 | Sold | | 254 | 1930 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood Transformable Town Cabriolet | $374,000 | Sold | | 255 | 1932 Packard Twin Six Sport Phaeton | $462,000 | Sold | | 256 | 1966 Amphicar Convertible | $77,000 | Sold | | 257 | 1956 Packard Caribbean Convertible | $132,000 | Sold | | 258 | 1903 Marble Swift Runabout | $82,500 | Sold | | 259 | 1960 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible | $170,500 | Sold | | 260 | 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible | $357,500 | Sold | | 261 | 1913 Packard Model 1-38 Runabout | $517,000 | Sold | | 262 | 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster | $1,485,000 | Sold | | 262A | 1911 Ford Model T Torpedo Runabout | $44,000 | Sold | | 263 | 1967 Pontiac Gran Prix Convertible | $82,500 | Sold | | 264 | 1924 GMC K-16 1-Ton Potato Truck | $33,000 | Sold | | 265 | 1985 Pontiac Trans Am Experimental Kammback | $66,000 | Sold | | 266 | 1934 Pierce-Arrow Resto-Rod | $115,500 | Sold | | 267 | 1939 American Bantam Roadster | $60,500 | Sold | | 268 | 1960 Ford Thunderbird Convertible | $63,250 | Sold | | 269 | 1921 Ford Model T Paddy Wagon | $38,500 | Sold | | 270 | 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder Convertible | $51,700 | Sold | | 271 | 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT | $22,000 | Sold | | 272 | 1994 Pontiac Trans Am 25th Anniversary Edition | $27,500 | Sold | | 273 | 1975 Bricklin SV-1 Coupe | $29,700 | Sold | | 274 | 1941 Plymouth Deluxe Coupe | $18,700 | Sold | | 275 | 1970 Pontiac GTO Convertible | $90,750 | Sold | | 276 | 1931 Ford Model A Roadster | $44,000 | Sold | | 277 | 1984 Pontiac Fiero Indy Pace Car Replica Special Edition | $22,000 | Sold | | 278 | 1957 GMC Series 101 1/2-Ton Pickup Truck | $68,200 | Sold | | 279 | 1949 Pontiac Delivery Sedan | $52,800 | Sold | | 280 | 1983 Pontiac Trans Am Daytona 500 25th Anniv. Special Edition | $26,400 | Sold | | 281 | 1983 Jeep CJ7 Custom | $41,800 | Sold | | 282 | 1906 Colliope Music Wagon | $33,000 | Sold |
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