St. John's

The Inn at St. John's
28 July 2012

AMERICAN CLASSICS TOP RM'S $6.8 MILLION MICHIGAN SALE

A majestic 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Victoria, J272, formerly owned by noted band leader Paul Whiteman of "Rhapsody in Blue" fame, garnered top dollar at RM's Michigan sale, selling for a strong $957,000 before a packed house.

One of just 16 examples bodied with convertible Victoria coachwork by Rollston, the stunning Duesenberg led a magnificent group of top-selling American classics at the single-day sale, held in conjunction with the famed Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's. In total, the three-and-a-half-hour auction lifted the gavel on a total of 74 automobiles, generating more than $6.8 million in sales with a solid 82 percent of all lots sold.

Building on RM's reputation as the specialists for private and estate collections, the St. John's sale also presented a fine selection of 15 automobiles from the distinguished private collection of William Ruger Jr. Headlined by a 1937 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster for $352,000, the collection achieved a total of $1.8 million.