Rare selection of American Classics highlight Andrews Collection sale

The collector community is set to descend on Fort Worth, Texas, May 2, as RM Sotheby’s lifts the gavel on the prized Paul & Chris Andrews Collection. Arguably the most significant car collection ever presented at a single-vendor auction, the upcoming sale of this father-son automotive portfolio will showcase an impressive 78 vehicles along with a diverse assortment of memorabilia. The group is offered entirely without reserve, with each lot selling to the highest bidder.

The quality, presentation, and historical significance exhibited in the Andrews Collection are almost singular. A collaborative effort between father and son, Paul and Chris’ respective tastes saw them expose each other to vehicles the other had never before considered or appreciated. Both lifelong enthusiasts with a keen eye for design, Chris’ interests initially centered on hot rods and Paul’s on classics, though over the years, their paths ultimately crossed. Today, the Andrews Collection covers many facets of collecting, from a flawless group of pre-war American classics to some of the finest sports and GT cars in existence and a superb roster of hot rods and customs.

“Without doubt, the Andrews Collection is one of the most unique and comprehensive collections we’ve ever had the privilege of offering,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “As a group, the collection provides a fantastic illustration of two generations of collectors coming together. It’s rare to see a father-son collection of this magnitude and is certainly a wonderful reflection of Paul and Chris’ shared passions and of time spent together. The Andrews Collection sale has attracted tremendous pre-sale interest, which we expect will translate into spirited bidding come auction day.”

While the offering is headlined by a pair of Ferrari 400 Superamericas – the crown jewel, a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet raced by its original owner at the Bonneville Salt Flats and expected to bring more than $7,000,000 -– the sale also includes an outstanding selection of pre-war American Classics, many of which are among the most impressive, one-off designs ever built.

Leading this group is a remarkable duo of Duesenbergs, comprised of the famed Ethel Mars 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car by Bohman & Schwartz, engine no. J-553, one of the most outrageous and ornate of all Duesenbergs (Est. $3,400,000 - $3,600,000), and the painstakingly restored 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Convertible Coupe by Murphy, engine no. J-395 (Est. $2,500,000 - $3,000,000). Also poised for the auction podium, a trio of striking 1934 Packard Twelve models, including: the 1934 New York Auto Show car, a 1934 Packard Twelve Sport Coupe by LeBaron (Est. $1,600,000 - $2,500,000); a Pebble Beach Best in Class winning 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich (Est. $1,200,000 - $1,600,000); and a sumptuous 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe by Dietrich, one of just five known survivors (Est. $2,400,000 - $3,000,000).

Kelleher adds, “From the trio of 1934 Packard Twelves, to one of the best Duesenbergs on the planet, the quality of the American Classics in the Andrews Collection cannot be overlooked. With many examples coming to public auction for the first time, it’s hard to qualify the impact they are going to have, but we expect the results will reinforce the importance of special, one-off, coachbuilt American Classics.”

Illustrating the breadth of the collection, additional notable highlights include a thrilling group of hot rods and customs, led by the instantly recognizable 1932 Ford Lakes Roadster Custom by Khougaz. One of the most iconic and historically important hot rods extant, the “Khougaz Lakes Roadster” clocked 141.05 mph at El Mirage Dry Lake in 1949 (Est. $300,000 - $375,000). Also poised for the auction podium, a stunning 1956 Ford F-100 Custom, commissioned for noted hot rod enthusiast, Joe MacPherson (Est. $350,000 - $450,000).

Beyond the automobiles, the Andrews Collection also includes an eclectic array of memorabilia, ranging from numerous child and pedal cars, through to impeccable models, rare mechanical musical instruments, well-preserved neon signs and a fully functional Ferrari Engine Dynamometer. Select highlights include a superbly restored Gavioli 110-Key Fairground Organ, one of the most elaborate and musically powerful examples in the world ($Est. $600,000 - $650,000), along with an iconic, double-sided Ford Dealership Neon sign in beautiful condition (Est. $15,000 - $20,000).

Full event details for the Paul and Chris Andrews Collection sale, including the complete digital catalogue, are available at www.rmauctions.com or by calling 1-519-352-4575.