RM Sotheby’s adds entries to Santa Monica sale

CULVER CITY, Calif. _RM Sotheby’s has announced recent entries for its upcoming Santa Monica sale, June 24 at California’s historic Barker Hangar. Set to lift the gavel on more than 170 cars and select memorabilia, the one-day sale presents the best of SoCal car culture.

Featured will be six American Classics and customs offered from a prominent private collection, offered at no reserve. The star of the group is a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline by Murphy,J-259. Itwas delivered new to Singer Sewing Machine heir Arthur K. Bourne, who spotted one of the first Model Js while golfing at Pebble Beach. Bodied by Murphy coachbuilders of Pasadena, the Duesenberg was equipped with numerous features specified by Bourne, including a full-size home radio installed in the back of the front seat, a secret compartment under the driver’s seat for stowing valuables, and Mercedes-Benz-style Zeiss headlights. The wealthy playboy also equipped the car with a police siren, which remains present today. Bourne had Bohman & Schwartz modify the car in 1934 with lowered, skirted fenders, a metal trunk, redesigned running boards, and a long radiator to accommodate mountain and desert driving, which he enjoyed until 1947, when the car was placed in storage. The Model J then passed through a handful of owners, including former CCCA president Richard Gold, who retained the car for over three decades before it was sold to its current owner. Never fully restored, the ACD Club Category-One certified Duesenberg comes to Santa Monica with its original chassis, engine, firewall, and body— a truly unique Murphy-bodied Model J, treasured since new.

Additional highlights from the private collection include an authentic 1930 Cadillac V-16 roadster, body No. 73, which still wears its coveted original Fleetwood two-passenger roadster body. The CCCA Full Classic’s older restoration presents well in attractive Brewster Green and black over brown leather upholstery, and it is well-accessorized with Pilot Ray driving lights, cowl-mounted spotlights, dual horns, Goddess mascot, proper luggage rack, and more. Rounding out the group is a largely original 1948 Chrysler Town & Country convertible, showing less than 65,000 miles; a beautifully restored 1940 Ford Deluxe convertible; a high-quality 1932 Ford V-8 roadster street rod; and, a high-performance 1932 Ford V-8 Deluxe "three-window" coupe street rod.

A pair of iconic European convertibles also highlight the single-day Santa Monica sale, led by a recently restored 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. The 300 SL is joined at the auction by another icon of 1960s luxury, a matching-numbers 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Cabriolet.

For further information, visit www.rmsothebys.com, or call +1 310 559 4575.