Here's one last look back at RM Auctions' sale of The Pate Collection in Cresson Texas, last weekend (June 5), and a look ahead to RM's Classic Muscle & Modern Performance auction in San Diego on June 19...
The former sale attracted a packed house on the grounds of the former Pate Museum of Transportation - including many locals who fondly remembered their childhood trips to the museum and were looking to own a piece of that history.
They were joined, figuratively speaking, by bidders from other areas of the United States and also Europe, who provided ample competition online and over the telephone.
Forty-three vehicles and over 170 lots of memorabilia appeared from the collection before the assembled collectors and enthusiasts, along with a series of select private consignments. All were offered without reserve.
 An Aston Martin 1935 MK II Tourer (top), and the 1962 Checker Marathon Dallas Taxi Cab, believed to have been hailed by Lee Harvey Oswald |
Ultimately, the event posted over $1.9m in sales, with many lots exceeding their pre-sale estimates.
The top-seller of the day was the original 1935 Aston Martin MK II Tourer which doubled its pre-sale low estimate to sell for $187,000.
Elsewhere, the 1962 Checker Marathon Dallas Taxi Cab, believed to have been hailed by Lee Harvey Oswald following his assassination of President John F Kennedy, also spurred lively bidding. It achieved $35,750 versus a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 - $30,000.
The Checker Taxi Cab is headed to the Historic Auto Attractions museum in Rockford, Illinois, where it will join a large collection of other Kennedy memorabilia.
Meanwhile, highlights at RM's June 19 Classic Muscle & Modern Performance sale include this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette L72 427/425 Roadster.
Appropriately for a muscle car, the Chevy's name refers to its size (427 cubic inches) and power (425 hp), combining to make this beautiful 1966 Nassau Blue Corvette Roadster a true rolling piece of art.
 The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette L72 427/425 Roadster |
Over the years, the roadster has continued to benefit from an older, show-quality restoration.
It was recently inspected by a noted Corvette expert, who confirms that it has a matching numbers engine and that it was originally equipped with side pipes.
The car's high quality has been acknowledge with numerous awards between 1995-96, including Gold Spinner and Triple Crown awards from the Chevy/Vettefest Nationals and NCRS Top Flight and Performance Verification Awards.
It also has Bloomington Gold certification - a tremendously impressive pedigree - and will auction at RM without reserve.
The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette will charge onto the auction block alongside other American Chevy muscle car classics, including the 70 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 Convertible (or "Earth Mover") and two rare L88s.
