“Little Red Wagon” wheels in $550,000

The “Little Red Wagon” Wheelstander was part of a ‘no-reserve’
single-owner collection of 80 historic vehicles and 70 lots of
memorabilia sold.

Los Angeles, CA − RM’s Icons of Speed & Style auction event held Saturday at the famed Petersen Automotive Museum presented a ‘no-reserve’ single-owner collection of 80 historic vehicles and 70 lots of memorabilia to a standing-room-only crowd and online audience, achieving total sales of $6,905,952.

The 1965 Dodge A100 Pickup Truck “Little Red Wagon” Wheelstander exceeded its high estimate of $300,000 to sell for $550,000, marking the top transaction of the day. The “Little Red Wagon” was famously campaigned by Bill “Maverick” Golden, running the quarter-mile with the wheels up in the mid 11-second range and becoming drag racing’s first full-time exhibition act, thrilling crowds for nearly 40 years.

Reaching $324,500, the instantly-recognizable 1965 Dodge Deora Concept Car, designed by Harry Bradley and built by the Alexander Brothers of Detroit, sold to rousing applause by an enthusiastic audience. The Deora, immortalized in miniature by Mattel, remains the highest-selling ‘Hot Wheels’ of all time.

“The auction marked a rare occasion where many of the highlight dragsters and customs were reunited with their original drivers and designers to the delight of the crowd,” said Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer, RM Auctions.

“Many cars sold within their pre-auction estimates with some selling for more than anticipated. Given the advance promotion, advertising and marketing we were pleased with the attendance and the results appear to be largely inline and reflective of the current market sensitivity,” he added.

Additional auction highlights include the “Spirit of 76” Bonneville Streamliner for $275,000, the 1961 Wagon-Master Riviera Exhibition Dragster for $209,000 and the 1966 Ed “Big Daddy” Roth Druid Princess selling for $203,500.

RM Auctions rounds out its 2009 auction calendar next month with the presentation of two important events: Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey, October 8 & 9 in Hershey, Pa. and, Automobiles of London, October 28 in London, England.

Official results for Icons of Speed & Style event are posted online at www.rmauctions.com.

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