LARGEST FORD COLLECTION AUCTION SETS NEW RECORD
THE WORLD'S largest Ford collection was recently auctioned by Bonhams at the Den Hartogh Museum in the Netherlands.
Setting a new record price of $664,700 was the jewel in the crown of the collection; an ex-William F. Harrah and Imperial Palace Collection 1905 Ford Model B Side Entrance Tonneau, that induced the longest bidding exchange of the auction, eventually selling for more than seven times its estimate.
Comprising over 300 lots, the marathon auction that lasted over 10 hours and its team of auctioneers realised a total of AUD$9.75 million.
Expectedly the auction attracted interest from around the globe, with more than 500 people registering to bid for their piece of the marque’s history.
Other notable highlights of the auction were the 1906 Ford Model K Open Tourer that sold for $545,800 to a buyer in attendance, after some fierce bidding. Other big-ticket sellers were a 1903 Ford Model A Open Tourer that doubled its estimate and sold for $227,400, a rare Canadian-built 1904 Ford Model C 10hp Two/Four Seater Side Entrance Tonneau for $140,650 and a 1906 Ford Model F 16hp Twin Cylinder Side Entrance Tonneau that achieved a healthy $147,900. At the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest item sold was a 1946 Ford powered Pumper Trailer that went for $3600
The breadth and variety of lots on offer was staggering, ranging from the elegant 1900’s tourers to snowmobiles – a 1930 Ford Model A Snowmobile achieved $138,250. Successful bids throughout the auction were received from countries as far afield as New Zealand and unsurprisingly, from the USA.
Rupert Banner, Group Motoring Director and one of the auctioneers for the sale commented: "We were bowled over by today’s result. A 100 per cent sold auction is a rare occurrence, especially one with such a vast quantity of lots. It was a pleasure to be able to find new owners for vehicles that had been treasured for so long. The result shows that the enthusiasm for veteran and vintage vehicles remains strong and that the Ford and Lincoln marques still have a global appeal.”