Rudi Klein is one of the most intriguing figures among car collectors. He was born in Germany and moved to the United States in the 1950s where he set up shop as a butcher. A little over 10 years later, he decided to make a change and began pursuing his true passion - cars. Without the affluent means to collect high-end automobiles, Klein decided to instead open a scrapyard and indulge his interests by taking cars apart. He had a fondness for damaged or crashed vehicles, but was discerning about what he added to his collection.
Throughout his lifetime, Klein amassed some highly sought-after vintage cars, but few details were ever available. He was a noted recluse and never disclosed the contents of his scrapyard, to the point that his family refused to release any information even after his death in 2021. Automotive enthusiasts from around the world have long wondered about the famed collection, and the veil was finally lifted this year by RM Sotheby’s.
On 26th October, the renowned auction house hosted ‘The Junkyard’, a sale of the enigmatic Rudi Klein Collection comprising 208 out of a total 567 lots. The remaining pieces, which mainly comprised engine parts and equipment, were sold online. As one might expect, the items put up for sale were far from being in prime condition. Peeling paint, rust, and missing pieces were all par for the course, but that didn’t take away from the awe-inspiring nature of the collection itself. There were a number of rare Mercedes-Benzes, including a hardly seen Pullman and 300SL Gullwing that was considered as good as lost once purchased by Klein. Other notable pieces include 37 Porsche 356s, an Aston Martin Vantage ‘Molded Fliptail’ (one of 11 produced), a prototype Iso Grifo Spider, and a pair of Maseratis.
The vehicles are ripe for restoration and some of the parts - original engines, seats and transmission components to name but a few - might be just what dedicated restorers need to complete their current projects. All told, Rudi Klein’s enigmatic collection fetched a total of $29.6 million, a staggering amount for what initially appears to be just scrap. But underneath the layers of dust (and in some cases, rust), the Junkyard proved to be a treasure trove of classic automobiles, with a few vehicles that were long considered to be lost for good.
At the top of the list is the aforementioned Gullwing, which sold for an incredible $9,355,000. The car is fully intact, though it has some damage to the rear bumper and its original black finish was at some point repainted to silver. The latter is especially unfortunate as this was the only Gullwing to be originally delivered in black.
A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K coupe that was commissioned for European racing champion Rudolf Caracciola was the next highest sale at just over $4.1 million. This exceedingly rare vehicle had not been seen in public since 1980, shortly after it was acquired by Klein, and has become a bit of a Holy Grail amongst collectors.
The next highest sale, at around $3.3 million, was of a 1939 Horch 855 roadster. One of the main competitors of Mercedes-Benz in the 1930s, Horch attained the pinnacle of design and performance with the 855, of which less than 10 examples were ever produced. The car went on to become a celebrity in its own right. It was purchased by Purcell Ingram, proprietor of the Kings of the Road Museum, and was the subject of a magazine article. In the 1950s the Horch 855 took to the silver screen, making a notable appearance in the 1959 film ‘The World Is Ours’, with legendary star Rock Hudson behind the wheel.
The fourth most expensive sale, at a little over $1.3 million, was a Lamborghini Miura P400 from 1968. Considered the predecessor to the modern supercar, the Miura is a vehicle that any collector would be proud to own. This particular vehicle had been in the Junkyard for at least 46 years and was considered to be lost, making it a prized find indeed. It retains its matching-numbers V12 engine and its original coachwork, so it can be restored to a condition that is practically new.
Collectors had often speculated about what Rudi Klein’s collection ultimately amounted to and it’s safe to say that they were not disappointed. We can only wonder at what other hidden gems might lie in wait in the private garages of other contemporary collectors. A future RM Sotheby’s auction might just uncover some brand new surprises.
