A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster and a 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation topped the results at the RM Sotheby’s 2022 Gene Ponder Collection dale in Texas, USA.
RM Sotheby’s staged a single collector sale in Marshall, Texas, when it offered the Gene Ponder Collection of automobilia and cars in a three-day classic car auction. Two cars sold for over a million dollars each: a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with hardtop and a 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation by Erik Koux.
RM Sotheby’s Gene Ponder Collection Sale 2022 in Texas
RM Sotheby’s The Gene Ponder Collection sale in Marshall, Texas, USA from 22 to 24 September 2022.
The single-collector sale saw a 100% sell-through rate for a grand total of $24,315,417 over a three-day private auction. Over 1,100 lots crossed the block, selling to bidders onsite, over the phone, and online.
Results at the RM Sotheby’s Gene Ponder Sale 2022
The results of the RM Sotheby’s Gene Ponder Collection Sale in Texas in 2022 included:
- Two lots sold for over $1M
- Eight lots sold for over $500K
- 53 lots sold for over $100K
- 977 registered bidders
- 51% of bidders were first-time bidders
- Bidders hailed from 31 countries and 46 states
- 283 bidders or 29% were from Texas
The top daily results were:
- Thursday’s auction saw 491 lots go under the hammer and brought over $1M, with a Pegasus Neon and Bugatti Children’s Car being highlights as they both smashed their pre-sale estimates and bringing $19,550 each.
- Friday’s auction saw 455 lots bring nearly $1.3M, with the Arnolt-Bristol Engine on Running Engine Stand being the top lot of the day at $57,500.
- Saturday’s auction saw 217 lots sell, 126 cars and 91 lots of memorabilia. The day brought over $22M, with the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster being the top lot at $1,595,000.
Top-Ren Results at the RM Sotheby’s Gene Ponder Collection Sale 2022
| 1. 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | $1,595,000 USD |
| 2. 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation by Erik Koux | $1,155,000 USD |
| 3. 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC by Pininfarina | $797,500 USD |
| 4. 1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta in the style of Touring | $792,000 USD |
| 5. 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder by Vignale | $770,000 USD |
| 6. 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe by Graber | $687,500 USD |
| 7. 1974 Ferrari 246 Dino GTS ‘Chairs & Flares’ by Scaglietti | $632,500 USD |
| 8. 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Spider Recreation by Pur Sang | $627,000 USD |
| 9. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Pinin Farina | $489,500 USD |
| 10. 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet by Pinin Farina | $440,000 USD |
Million-Dollar Cars at Texas Auction
Both million-dollar cars in the Gene Ponder Collection sale sold for just below the presale estimate. The top result was $1,595,000 for the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, estimate $1,700,000 – $1,900,000, while the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation by Erik Koux achieved $1,155,000, estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000.
This 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster was finished in the striking color combination of Dark Red over Cognac leather with matching soft and hard tops. It retained its numbers-matching engine, gearbox, steering box, front spindles, rear axle, and original hardtop. This example was toured regularly by Gene Ponder throughout the United States. The Roadster was originally delivered to Ethiopia but very little else is known of its early history.
The more fascinating car was the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Recreation by Erik Koux. This recreation started off as a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 chassis fitted with a Gangloff saloon body. In 1986 the transformation started with the saloon body being replaced by an Atlantic recreation body by specialist Erik Koux. Much of the underpinnings were also changed to convert the chassis to SC standard. A fine recreation to very high standards but of course not the real thing. If one of the three surviving real Atlantics ever made it to the open market, RM Sotheby’s estimates a result well above $40 million.
RM Sotheby’s next major auction is at Hershey in October 2022.
