What recession you may ask after reading this latest news piece, because millions of dollars continue to change hands between collectors for the finest vehicles on the auction block. It now seems that Depression era vehicles are more popular than ever.
At RM Auctions recent Amelia Island event, two early-30s Duesenbergs from the estate of collector Mr. John O’Quinn brought in some serious coin. Both were Model Js with coachwork by Murphy and 265-horsepower 420-cubic-inch straight-eight engines with four valves per cylinder mated to three-speed transmissions.
The first, a 1930 saloon, bested early estimates by fetching an unreal $1,705,000 USD at auction. The second, a 1932 convertible, achieved a remarkable $800,000 USD.
RM Auctions interestingly pointed out, that an average family sedan in the 1930’s cost about $500, so the $20,000 sticker price on a new coachbuilt Duesenberg in its day equates to about a million dollars today with inflation. So you could say it’s simply held its value.
See photos of both Dusenbergs by clicking the link below.
