A COLLECTION of some of the world’s rarest cars has hit auction after it was found rotting under a decade of dust following the owner’s death.
The incredible stable is jam-packed with collectable classics – though some of them need a bit of work.
The Rudi Klein Junkyard is one of the largest classic car collections in the world[/caption]
It also houses some of the rarest cars in existence[/caption]
Rudi hoarded the stunning vehicles for almost 50 years[/caption]
Crazed collector Rudi Klein’s catalogue is so bizarre, and so vanishingly rare, that many petrolheads weren’t even convinced of its existence.
Having moved to the US from Germany in the 1950s, he set about building up an unmatched horde of classic vehicles.
The mysterious Rudi kept the cars largely hidden from the public eye for decades, housing them all at his compound in California.
On the rare occasions he did let outsiders in, there were some real gems to be found.
Several years ago, one visitor tracked down a Mercedes 500K in the yard which later sold for more than £7.5 million.
But the rest of the cars have remained largely untouched for at least a decade.
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- Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé (1955) – £114.4 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) – £52.3 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO Tipo (1963) £41.4 million
- Ferrari 250 GTO (1962) – £30.7 million
- Ferrari 335 Sport Scaglietti (1957) – £28.8 million
- Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954) – £23.8 million
- Ferrari 290M (1956) – £22.6 million
- Ferrari 275 GTB/4 S NART Spider (1967) – £27.5 million
- Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale (1964) – £21.2 million
- Aston Martin DBR 1 (1956) – £17.7 million
However, Rudi sadly passed away in 2001 and the immense contents of his yard have gone up for sale after more than 20 years gathering dust.
Luxury auction house RM Sotheby’s will be managing the collection, with bidding starting this month.
Some of the highlights include a 1968 Lamborghini Miura listed for up to £536,000 and a “long-lost” 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
There are even some rare motorcycles dotted around the collection, such as an original 1956 Indian Fire Arrow 250.
Unfortunately, as the Junkyard name suggests, the cars tend not to be in great condition.
It is not believed that Rudi used them regularly and most have not seen any maintenance work since his death.
Images of the lots on the Sotheby’s website show most to be covered in dirt and grime.
They have largely remained untouched since his death in 2001[/caption]
Many petrolheads didn’t believe the stable even existed[/caption]
Sadly, most of the cars are in disrepair[/caption]
Plenty are missing pieces and look to have remained untouched for decades.
Nonetheless, Cary Ahl, a car specialist for the auctioneers, hailed the unparalleled set.
He said: “Bringing something out of hiding that’s only been rumoured to exist, like the legendary Klein Collection, is truly special.
“Discovering a hidden Mercedes 500K or an Alloy Gullwing is the kind of story that resonates with everyone, not just automotive enthusiasts.
“What Klein amassed here is one-of-a-kind, and we know that many of these cars will live on for generations, powering new projects, or preserved in their original state.”
The ‘one-of-a-kind’ collection will be auctioned this month[/caption]
Put together, it could be worth millions[/caption]
The new owners might have to give the motors a bit of a clean[/caption]
