(Words and Photos by Joe Grippo) One of the more interesting extracurricular activities available to the Hershey AACA Eastern Region Fall Meet attendees, is the RM Sotheby’s Auction. Held for over twenty years at the Hershey Lodge located appropriately enough on Chocolate Avenue, just east of the main shindig swap meet at the Hershey Park facility. Over 160 lots of brass-era vehicles, post-war classics, motorcycles and even a few serious muscle cars and race cars. Add in some high-end memorabilia and collectibles and there was certainly something for everyone. That is if you had the financial means…I did not, so my hands were firmly kept in my pockets.
With a Tuesday evening preview, the auction got going on late each day Wednesday and Thursday afternoons into early the early evening. RM Sotheby’s reported an estimated $16.6 million in sales and almost 100% sell through rate. American antiques of the ‘20s and ‘30s were responsible for some of the highest returns. The 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster was hammered for $710, 000, and was the high seller. Other eyebrow raising sales were two very early 1930’s LeBaron coach work bodied Chryslers combining for over a million bucks and a ’34 Packard Convertible changed hands for $300k plus. A few other diverse lots that piqued my interest were a 1985 Penske-March IndyCar driven by Al Unser (sold for $71K), a 1971 Norton Commando 850 (sold for $6K) and my favorite the 1934 Edsel Ford Special Speedster Recreation (sold for $88K). A sizeable Ford Woody collection was offered up as well with a prices ranging from semi-affordable to salty. Check out the gallery for all the good stuff.
We popped in each night after walking the swap meet to check out the action, it has become a traditional after dinner stop on way home each day.
For full auction results, click here: RM Sotheby’s Hershey
