1938 auto union type d

1938 Auto Union Type D and Others Fail to Sell at Bonhams

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Talk about a troubled history. The Auto Union Type D racer from 1938 remains one of the most controversial cars in automotive history. Adolf Hitler sponsored its development as a rolling example of Germany's superiority, but after the war the few examples made largely disappeared. Two years ago, one such example resurfaced and was expected to set records at auction, but was pulled from the roster at the last minute due to lingering questions over its pedigree. Those doubts were recently put to rest and the famous Silver Arrow was put back on the docket, this time at the Bonhams Auction at the Quail Lodge this weekend in Monterey, California. Bonhams listed the car's value at $8 million, with some estimated its worth closer to $12 million, but when the hammer came down, the legendary race car failed to reach its reserve price, with bids stagnating at $6 million. And so the story continues.

Unfortunately for Bonhams, the Auto Union wasn't the only big-ticket item that failed to sell. Evel Knievel's Ferrari Daytona Spyder and a rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S didn't reach their reserve prices, either. Among those that did sell, however, were a rare 1933 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible Victoria ($1.4M) along with a 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Coupe, a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster and a 1931 Bentley Birkin-Style Tourer, each of which sold for over $800k. But we suspect this isn't the last we've heard of the infamous Auto Union Type D.

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