The Rudi Klein Junkyard Collection: Part Two – The Cars
As revealed in Part One of the Klein Junkyard series (thanks once again to Helena for the tip!) Mr Klein amassed an enormous collection of mostly German exotic cars and parts over decades. While his business ostensibly existed to sell parts to the public, he was quite fond of his inventory, and far less volume left the grounds than arrived. Our first article explored his parts shelves; now it’s time to investigate a few of the cars, beginning with this alloy-bodied 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. The 300SL was a spectacular automobile in “standard” form – an odd concept when discussing a Gullwing – but once crafted completely of alloy, with plastic door windows, and given performance upgrades, the car shifted from spectacular to otherworldly. Buyers of any 300SL could select a racing cam and Rudge wheels, but the alloy car came with those options and more. Lighter than the standard 300SL by over 200 lbs and squeezing 240 hp from the 3.0-liter fuel-injected six-cylinder engine, the alloy variant was primed to compete with Maserati’s A6GCS and Ferrari’s 250 GT. The lightweight Gullwing’s steep cost kept buyers at bay, so only 29 were ever made. This example was ordered new by Luigi Chinetti, the famed Ferrari dealer; Mr. Klein purchased the car directly from Chinetti when they met at the 1976 Daytona 500. After the car was delivered to Klein, it remained locked in time, tooling around the yard periodically. A tangle with a forklift dented its rear. Exquisite documentation accompanies the car. The estimated sales price is $4.5 to $6 million, no reserve; given comparables, that’s a reasonable range.
This spyder is an Iso Grifo A3/L prototype developed by Giugiaro at Bertone for Renzo Rivolta, Iso’s founder. Designed, produced, and shown at Turin in 1963, it pre-dates the introduction of the A3/L by at least a year. Two prototypes were built – the spyder and a coupe; due to chassis flex, only the coupes entered production, leaving this example as the lone drop-top. Bizzarrini engineered the A3/L mechanicals utilizing American components: early Iso Grifo cars used Chevy’s 327 cu. in. V8 paired with a Borg Warner four-speed manual. Rudi Klein acquired this car from Greg Garrison, a television producer, in 1980. At some point along the way, the car was in an accident, and the front clip was replaced by one from a coupe – a mild tragedy since the spyder’s bodywork was quite different from the coupe. The estimate on this car is $700k to $1 million, no reserve.
Time to switch back to Mercedes-Benz. This 1935 500K coupe is a one-off built at the factory and given to star race car driver, Rudolph Caracciola. Caracciola adored cars, and opposing his father’s insistence that he attend university, he became an apprentice at one of automaker Fafnir’s factories. He immediately began racing, at one point piloting one of Mercedes’ first supercharged models – the 6/25 – to four wins in eight tries. In 1926, Caracciola asked Mercedes for a car to enter the first German Grand Prix; despite a stall at the starting line and driving rain, he won, launching his competition career. During the early 1930s, he drove for Alfa Romeo, then returned to Mercedes. Beloved for his winning ways, Caracciola was gifted this 500k – one of Mercedes’ most famous supercharged models – with the build tailored to his specifications. The car was delivered to him in Paris, and he owned it until the late 1930s. Its adventures included a stint in Ethiopia, hidden under tarps; restoration in the mid-1960s with a new owner; and several years of concours attendance. Rudi Klein purchased the car in 1979, perhaps showing it once, and then off it went, into the bowls of the junkyard. The estimate on this gem is $4 to $6 million, again with no reserve.
I could have chosen yet another unattainable example from RM Sotheby’s Klein sale catalog – like this twisted Ferrari 330 GTC with a high estimate of $40k, or this slice of a Ferrari 275 GTS also at $40k. But what fun is that? How about this groovy 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 single-cab pickup. Its estimate sits at $5k to $10k, which, okay I admit, that’s a bit of California dreamin’ maybe, but it isn’t seven figures! Used around Klein’s yard for decades, this VW still sports the remnants of his “Porche” business name on its flanks. There’s no motor or transmission, but so what! You’re in the land of orphan motors and transmissions, and you can take your pick. What’s your favorite of the Klein offerings? Let us know!
Auctions Ending Soon
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Comments
In 1970 we were living in Nevada and went to Reno to take one of many tours through the Harrah museum. On the way we passed a used car lot with an Iso Grifo sitting on it. Black over black. $5,200. Thought about that one real hard but went over to the Porsche dealer and bought a ’64 356C coupe. How things have changed!
Similar story. Some time in the early 80’s I was coming back from the museum and stopped at a used car lot because there was a white Boss 9 sitting there for $2900.00! I didn’t have $100.00, let alone 29 of them. But I do recall thinking that that was an awful lot of car for that price.
I loved to visit the Harrahs museum. You could see and watch the cars being restored and the variation of everything was amazing. Sammy Davis Jr’s Trike. I think there was a warehouse with a version of every single Model A ever made. They even had a P-38 lightning there. How it got there and where it went I have no idea.
Really enjoyed the 4 complete old railroad trains in the parking lot. They had the Ford Tri motor plane hanging from the ceiling in the main display area that told you there was a lot more to the collection other than cars.
With the wherewithal to rebuild one of these and a choice, some might go for what many consider an iconic Ferrari of the ‘70’s-a 1972 365 GTC/4.
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/rk24/lots/r0239-1972-ferrari-365-gtc4-by-pininfarina/
But then when the 1966 Iso Grifo showed up it was a slam dunk:
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/rk24/lots/r0240-1966-iso-grifo-series-i-by-bertone/
365HP Chevy 327ci with a 4spd and 3.07 rear end, this car was made for cruising across the USA.
When it’s restored this will be a joy to look at and drive IMO.
WOW! What an interesting listing, it kind of boggles your mind.
Even if there were no other cars, what a trio that is!
I like the VW too; I also like the pile of blank-slate scrapped 356s on the scaffolding. Long-lost cars, so transplant a rotten Beetle into one and then develop it.
From the rack upon rack of 356 Porsches in the background, when this collection is finally sold off it may cause a drop in the market for 356’s.
I got to go in Vasik Poliks (sp) private collection some years back. Among the cars, motorcycles and such, it was pointed out to me that a particular stack of crates was “every 16 (I think, may have been 18) cylinder crankshaft Porsche made for a version of the 917 CanAm car that was never built.” They were beating everybody with the 12 cylinder already anyway.
Way back in 1979 I found a 300SL for sale for $60K at a local upholstery shop. I didn’t have the money but i knew that was a bargain. This was when Duesenbergs were setting the pace on escalating prices. Remember those days? My father had just retired and was looking for investments to build the family trust. I didn’t think he would go for it so I only mentioned it in passing at dinner that night. I wish I had actually tried to persuade him. It turns out that any 300sl would have outperformed most of his investments especially the limited partnerships in crappy apartment developments. Turns out my father was a lot more open minded than I gave him credit for. My mother on the other hand would never have gone for it.
not familiar w/this guy but appears a junk yrd w/o any junk (sorta).
Hi, my name is Chuck, and I’m an Automotive Addict/Hoarder. Admitting our problem is the first step, but leaving the collection to my heirs may or may not be profitable to them LOL. I didn’t start early enough I reckon, if this was my dad’s collection, I think I would keep the 300SL and a Porsche or 3, maybe 10 or 20 more. Wake me up, I’m dreaming again, although I already have about 20 projects too many… https://www.flickr.com/people/115986104@N05/
I do have a FB group, Automotive Addicts Anonymous, come share your collection https://www.facebook.com/groups/1110623976668085
It’s hilarious that the auction listing for the single cab has the Miura S front clip as part of the lot. You have to buy the VW to be able to put one of the Lamborghini 400S back together? These guys are ridiculous.
The gullwing sold for 9.355 million.
This “junkyard” really paid off.
Here are the biggest results:
A 1956 Mercedes SL Gullwing Alloy, with a lightweight aluminum body, a car that originally belonged to Luigi Chinetti, sold for $9,355,000 including commission.
The 1964 Iso Grifo A3/L Spider Prototype, the only one ever made, sold for $1,700,000.
A Mercedes SL Roadster with what RM said were “sought-after Rudge racing wheels” went for $1,075,000.
A beat-up-looking green 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 sold for $1,325,000.
The 1935 Mercedes 500K made specially for Grand Prix racer Rudolf Caracciola sold at $3,750,000, “a crowning jewel of the junkyard,” the RM Sotheby’s host said.
And a 1962 Porsche 356 B 1600 Twin Grille Cabriolet moved for $1,050,000.