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Milhous Collection auction racks up US$38.3 million in sales

By Darren Quick
February 27, 2012
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The Milhous Collection auction has been completed with 100 percent of all lots sold
The 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five-Passenger Touring that sold for USD$3,300,000
The 1903 Ruth Style 38-B Fair Organ that sold for US$1,265,000
The 1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial Five-Passenger Phaeton that sold for US$1,210,000
The 1998 46-Foot Custom Carousel that sold with a Wurlitzer 153 Band Organ for US$1,207,500
The Gaudin 125-Key Dance Organ that sold for US$1,150,000
The 1913 Welte Wotan Brass Band Orchestrion that sold for US$1,092,500
The 1934 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Roadster that sold for US$1,001,000
The 1939 Lagonda V-12 Rapide Sports Roadster that sold for $990,000
The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan that sold for US$990,000
The 1937 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Phaeton that sold for US$962,500
The Milhous Collection auction has been completed with 100 percent of all lots sold
The Milhous Collection auction attracted bidders from around the world
View gallery - 12 images

The final hammer has come down on the Milhous Collection auction we previewed last week. The two-day event resulted in 100 percent of all lots being sold for a total of US$38.3 million. The item to fetch the highest price was a 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five-Touring, which set a world record auction price for an Oldsmobile at $3.3 million.

Conducted by RM Auctions in association with Sotheby's on February 24/25 in Boca Raton, Florida, the auction attracted bidders from 18 countries looking to snap up an item from the range of rare mechanical musical instruments, automobiles and collectibles on offer

The top ten most expensive items sold were:

  • 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five-Passenger Touring: $3,300,000
The 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five-Passenger Touring that sold for USD$3,300,000

  • 1903 Ruth Style 38-B Fair Organ: $1,265,000
    • The 1903 Ruth Style 38-B Fair Organ that sold for US$1,265,000

  • 1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial Five-Passenger Phaeton: $1,210,000
    • The 1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial Five-Passenger Phaeton that sold for US$1,210,000

  • 1998 46-Foot Custom Carousel With 42 Animals, 2 Chariots and Wurlitzer 153 Band Organ: $1,207,500
    • The 1998 46-Foot Custom Carousel that sold with a Wurlitzer 153 Band Organ for US$1,207,500

  • Gaudin 125-Key Dance Organ: $1,150,000
    • The Gaudin 125-Key Dance Organ that sold for US$1,150,000

  • 1913 Welte Wotan Brass Band Orchestrion: $1,092,500
    • The 1913 Welte Wotan Brass Band Orchestrion that sold for US$1,092,500

  • 1934 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Roadster: $1,001,000
    • The 1934 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Roadster that sold for US$1,001,000

  • 1939 Lagonda V-12 Rapide Sports Roadster: $990,000
    • The 1939 Lagonda V-12 Rapide Sports Roadster that sold for $990,000

  • 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan: $990,000
    • The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan that sold for US$990,000

  • 1937 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Phaeton: $962,500
    • The 1937 Cadillac Sixteen Custom Phaeton that sold for US$962,500

    Source: RM Auctions

    View gallery - 12 images

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    Remarkable PeopleAuctionCollectionRM AuctionsWorld Records
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    Darren Quick
    Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (no longer functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology eventually led to his current role as Global Managing Editor of New Atlas.
    1 comment
    svengali49
    I'd take any of those redhot 30s cars..... they are wonderful along with the Hispano Suiza. It is a great shame that modern cars lack the style of these classics.
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