One of the world’s most remarkable car collections is set to go up for auction this weekend in Los Angeles, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
The story behind this extraordinary trove begins in 1967, when German emigrant Rudi Klein began amassing a collection of cars and parts in a discreet junkyard in Los Angeles.
Klein passed away years ago, and now his family is looking to settle the estate’s tax obligations, leading to RM Sotheby’s unearthing these automotive treasures for enthusiasts to bid on.
Some standout items include Lamborghini Miuras in various states of disrepair, a rare, one-of-a-kind Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing,” an array of air-cooled Porsches complete with matching parts, as well as an assortment of Ferrari engines, motorcycles, and memorabilia.
Almost all of these finds are coated in a thick layer of grime, and they’ll be available for bidding both in person and online from October 26 to 28.
The “Junkyard Auction” is expected to draw a diverse crowd, including collectors aiming to benefit from the high market value of these vehicles, as well as those dreaming of restoring them to their former glory. RM Sotheby’s chairman and CEO Rob Myers also highlighted the auction’s unexpected appeal.
“There are so many iconic cars,” Myers remarked, “like an Alloy Gullwing, the only one ever made in black. It’s been in the junkyard since the ’60s. The books say it just disappeared. No one knew what happened.
Same with the 500 K coupe built for Mercedes racer Rudolph Caracciola—a unique coupe with a taller windshield, long believed destroyed. But it’s been in Rudi’s junkyard all this time.”
The auction also includes a vast array of Porsche parts, which could serve as intriguing art pieces or stylish coffee tables. However, with the high demand for Porsche authenticity, some collectors might see value in acquiring parts to restore a vintage air-cooled 911 to its original specs.
This raises the question of how much each part could be worth, especially if it adds considerable value to a complete restoration.
Myers also hinted at a potential shake-up in the collector’s market. “We’ve heard of fake cars in Europe carrying these chassis numbers, as people assumed these cars had been crushed and were gone.
Now, as these authentic cars hit the market, some Miura owners may find their serial numbers in question. For instance, ‘Well, sir, the car with that serial number is not authentic, because here’s the real one, sitting in this junkyard since the ’60s.’”
Documenting the provenance and details for every item in this collection has required extensive work from RM Sotheby’s.
The auction’s value may increase significantly if bidders can rely on RM’s meticulous documentation, especially given the potential to reveal replicas. Yet, the true extent of Rudi Klein’s collection will only be revealed once the final gavel falls.
One of the auction’s crown jewels is a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Alloy” Gullwing, estimated to sell between $4.5 and $6 million. It’s reportedly one of only 29 Gullwings ever built with a lightweight alloy body, specifically for competition among privateers in the 1950s.
Originally finished in black over red leather, this Gullwing was ordered by Luigi Chinetti, a multi-time Le Mans winner, though it was later repainted in iconic silver.
Klein acquired the car for $30,000 in 1976, and despite its dilapidated state, including forklift damage, it’s now expected to fetch millions.