Tag Archives: RM Sothebys

Janet Cussler Car Collection Headlines RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2025 Collector Car Auction

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1929 Minerva Model AK Coupe Chauffeur by Hibbard & Darrin. Photo by: RM Sotheby’s

January in Arizona is an exciting time for car collectors, as Arizona Car Week kicks off with multiple auctions and events taking place in the mild winter climate. Near the base of Piestewa Peak mountain is the luxurious Arizona Biltmore resort, which will once again set the stage for one of the most highly anticipated collector car auctions of the year.

The RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2025 event, now in its 27th year, features a spectacular showcase of automobiles, from pre-war antiques to modern day supercars.

Event Details

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable experience:

  • Free Preview Day: January 23, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Auction Start: January 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM

The Arizona Biltmore’s elegant ambiance provides the perfect backdrop for this prestigious event, which will feature a catalog of 92 exceptional vehicles. From vintage classics to rare collector’s items, this auction is a must-see for car enthusiasts, collectors, and historians alike.

A Highlighted Collection: The Janet Cussler Cars

Headlining this year’s auction is the offering of 32 antique and pre-war vehicles from the personal collection of Janet Cussler. These remarkable cars are a testament to the legacy of her late husband, Clive Cussler, a renowned novelist and passionate car collector.

Clive Cussler (1931-2020) was a literary giant, best known for his thrilling adventure novels. Over his prolific career, he penned more than 80 books that captivated readers worldwide. Beyond his writing, Cussler had a passion for classic cars, amassing an impressive collection of pre-war and 1950s automobiles. With over 150 vehicles in total, the bulk of his collection resides at the Cussler Museum in Arvada, Colorado, now managed by his children.

After Clive’s passing, Janet Cussler, his devoted wife and partner since their marriage in 2008, has chosen to part with a selection of vehicles from their Arizona home. These 32 vehicles, each with its own unique story, will take center stage at RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction, offering a rare glimpse into the couple’s shared passion for automotive history.

What to Expect

This year’s auction catalog reflects the diversity and richness of automotive design through the ages. Whether you’re drawn to the craftsmanship of antique cars, the innovation of pre-war models, or the enduring charm of 1950s classics, this event is sure to have something for everyone.

The free preview day on January 23 provides an opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in the collection, appreciating the intricate details and storied pasts of these iconic vehicles. For serious collectors, the auction on January 24 is a chance to bring home a piece of history.

The Janet Cussler Car Collection

  • 1869 Western Concord-Style Stagecoach Recreation
  • 1903 Oldsmobile Model R ‘Curved-Dash’ Runabout
  • 1906 Packard Model S Touring
  • 1907 Cadillac Model M Touring
  • 1908 Columbus Autobuggy
  • 1910 Buick Model 10 Touring
  • 1911 Ford Model T Runabout
  • 1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 66-A Runabout
  • 1911 REO Thirty Touring
  • 1914 Chevrolet Series H-2 ‘Royal Mail’ Roadster
  • 1914 Renault Type EF Town Car by Locke
  • 1916 Pierce-Arrow Model 48-B-4 Touring
  • 1917 Cadillac Type 55 Victoria
  • 1919 Kissel Model 6-45 Speedster
  • 1919 Locomobile Model 48, Series 6 Town Car by Demarest
  • 1921 Mercer Series 5 Sporting
  • 1921 Wills Sainte Claire A-68 Touring
  • 1922 Cunningham V4 Town Limousine
  • 1923 Jewett Model 18-22 Special Touring
  • 1923 Stutz Speedway Four Roadster
  • 1927 Cadillac V-8 Sport Phaeton by Fisher
  • 1929 Minerva Model AK Coupe Chauffeur by Hibbard & Darrin
  • 1929 Packard 640 Custom Eight Phaeton
  • 1930 Cadillac V-16 All-Weather Phaeton by Fleetwood
  • 1930 Packard 740 Custom Eight Sport Phaeton
  • 1931 Cadillac V-12 Touring by Fleetwood
  • 1931 Ford Model A DeLuxe Roadster
  • 1932 Lincoln Model KB Dual-Cowl Sport Phaeton
  • 1936 Packard 1407 Twelve Five-Passenger Coupe
  • 1937 Chrysler Airflow Eight Sedan
  • 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged ‘Sportsman’ Cabriolet
  • 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr Three-Window Coupe

Join the Legacy

RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction has long been a hallmark event of Arizona Car Week. This year, the Janet Cussler Collection presents a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to see and appreciate the beauty of these vehicles, as well as celebrate the lives and passions of those who cherished them.

Whether you’re an avid collector, a casual enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates the artistry of classic automobiles, the 2025 Arizona auction is an event not to be missed. Join RM Sotheby’s at the Arizona Biltmore for an extraordinary journey through automotive history and design.

For more information and to view the full catalog, visit RM Sotheby’s website. We’ll see you in Phoenix for a celebration of automotive excellence and enduring legacy.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2019 Auction Highlights and Results

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One of my destinations during Monterey Car Week 2019 was the RM Sotheby’s auction, which was held at the Monterey Conference Center. I paid $40 dollars admission to view the auction cars during the preview hours.

While I couldn’t document every car in the catalog, here are some highlights from the Monterey 2019 auction:

1994 McLaren F1 LM

The McLaren F1 is considered by many to be the “Greatest of All Time” of the supercar world. Just 106 of these amazing vehicles were built between 1992-1998. Of those, only 64 were road legal, and of those, only two were upgraded by the factory to “LeMans specifications.” This is one of those cars. As if the regular F1 weren’t special enough, the LeMans spec gets an unrestricted 680 hp engine (up from 618 hp in the standard F1), and a High Downforce Kit (HDK) with a revised nose with front fender vents and a huge rear wing.

For a car spotter like myself, seeing this car in person was the equivalent of finding the Holy Grail. It was an absolutely stunning example and perhaps the most outstanding vehicle of Monterey Car Week 2019. On the auction block, the car’s high bid was $18 million, slightly below the estimate of $20 to $25 million. With the buyer’s premium, the final sale price was $19,805,000. Congratulations to RM Sotheby’s and to the new owner!

2019 McLaren Senna (Serial No. 434/500)

McLaren’s latest hypercar, the Senna, is the latest and greatest in its lineage of “Ultimate Series” cars, which include the P1 and the F1. The Senna is limited to just 500 units worldwide. This one, car #434, is painted in Victory Grey with Papaya Spark accents. The car’s twin turbocharged 4.0L V8 engine produces 789 horsepower and was designed as a track-focused design with minimal comforts and amenities. The car did not meet its reserve price at the auction. Continue reading →

RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale 2019 Auction Results

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While collector car auctions like Barrett-Jackson and Russo and Steele capture much of the media spotlight during Arizona Car Week, there are other auctions like RM Sotheby’s that cater to the true enthusiast. Though their catalog is much smaller at around 200 vehicles, I find that RM Sotheby’s offers a wide variety of classic and contemporary cars, each one of which is truly outstanding.

The following are some personal highlights of cars I spotted at their 2019 Scottsdale Auction, held at the prestigious Arizona Biltmore Resort. While I would love to do a feature on every car in their catalog, time simply does not allow such a luxury. I have chosen some of the cars that I feel represent the quality and selection one would find at an RM Sotheby’s event.

Lot #273 – 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pininfarina

Every Ferrari is special, but this one is really something to write home about! This 1957 250 GT Speciale is a one-off custom bodied car by Pininfarina that was built for Lilian, Princess of Réthy, the royal lady of Belgium. The car was appraised at $11 to $13,000,000 by experts, but it did not meet the reserve price, with the highest bid received of $7,500,000 according to Hagerty.

Lot #243 – 1948 Tucker 48

The Tucker 48 is today appreciated as an automobile that was far ahead of its time. Just 51 cars were ever built before production ended. RM Sotheby’s is no stranger to Tuckers. They sold chassis no. 44, the legendary Ohio barn find car, at the Scottsdale 2017 auction for $1,347,500. Chassis no. 29, Preston Tucker’s personal car, crossed RM’s auction block in 2018 for a handsome $1,792,500. Now in 2019, chassis no. 40, a beautifully restored blue car (shown above) sold for $1,600,000 (including buyer’s premium).

Continue reading →