“That’s All Right...” Bonhams’ $9.6m Tupelo Museum sale

Held in the city that found fame as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, on 26-27 April Bonhams conducted a two-day sale of automobilia and predominantly pre-War motor cars amassed by American inventor, engineer and state television entrepreneur Frank K Spain.

Antique automobiles were Spain’s passion and over 100 cars were displayed in his Tupelo Automobile Museum. Spain died in 2006 and this No Reserve auction disposed of the museum's assets, the proceeds benefiting a local charitable educational foundation.

With entries ranging from the headlining 1948 Tucker 48, through (yet) more Brass Cars, 1950s ‘Happy Days’ fins and chrome and a mix of 1970s and '80s weirdness, it was an eclectic catalogue.

The Tucker (pictured, above) came out on top, selling well for $1,985,000 all-in against an estimate of $1.25m to $2m. That’s a good figure for a ‘museum’ car: RM sold another this January for $1.6m.

The recent trend of interesting pre-War classics still achieving significant prices continued, witness the 1930 Hispano-Suiza H6B Coupé Chauffeur ($335k gross), the 1936 Lagonda LG45 Tourer ($168k gross) and the smart, $450.5k all-in 1934 Duesenberg Model J ‘Prince of Wales’ Berline by Rollston.

The sale also featured a mass of collectable petroliana, tools, books, parts and other automobilia. On its own, the motor car section grossed $9,637,724.  

Photos by Bonhams