Worldwide Sells Most Expensive Hudson Automobile Ever at $1.2 Mio


1952 Hudson Hornet 6 'Twin-H Power'

1952 Hudson Hornet 6 'Twin-H Power'

1955 Hudson Italia

1955 Hudson Italia

1937 Railton Special Limousine

1937 Railton Special Limousine

 

Auburn, Indiana. August 6, 2018. On Saturday, August 4th, a global audience of collectors and enthusiasts gathered in Indiana for Worldwide Auctioneers’ much anticipated Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum Auction, the landmark sale of the world’s greatest collection of Hudson automobiles. 69 cars and associated memorabilia from the peerless Hostetler’s Hudson Auto Museum Collection went under the hammer in a packed salesroom at the site of the former Museum itself. The auction delivered a staggering $7.5 million in overall sales, smashing the world record for the most expensive Hudson automobile ever sold and breaking a total of thirty-two records in the process.

High sale went to the last and only known Hudson factory “Fabulous Hudson Hornet” NASCAR racer in existence, a 1952 Hudson Hornet 6 'Twin-H Power', owned and driven by NASCAR legend Herb Thomas, that brought an astounding $1.265 million, making it the most expensive Hudson ever sold. Another record price was realized for an exceedingly rare 1955 Hudson Italia that sold for astonishing $682,000, whilst an exceptional 1937 Railton Special Limousine with one-off coachwork by Rippon Brothers, that hammered sold for $462,000.

Complete results from the historic sale are available online at www.worldwideauctioneers.com.

“This collection was born of the late Eldon Hostetler’s life-long passion for the marque, encompassing dozens of rare, beautiful and truly special examples from across the decades” said John Kruse, Principal & Auctioneer. “Today’s record results are a testament to the care and expertise that went into building that incomparable collection. This sale attracted bidders from across the United States and overseas, with many of the cars offered in Shipshewana now on their way to other very significant collections. We look forward to seeing them out in the world at future concours and events and indeed on the road, continuing to build on the great legacy that the Hostetler’s began.”

Coming Up

Next stop for the team at Worldwide Auctioneers is The Pacific Grove Auction out on the Monterey Peninsula on Thursday, August 23rd, with an exceedingly pure 1931 Duesenberg Model J SWB Sport Convertible Sedan headlining the annual sale, offered from 45 years of single ownership and one of today’s finest surviving Model Js. The 11th annual The Auburn Auction is scheduled shortly after for Saturday, September 1st at the National Auto & Truck Museum L-29 Cord Building in Auburn, Indiana, with over 100 vehicles from seven exciting no reserve collections on the docket, including legendary Beatle John Lennon’s last personal Mercedes-Benz and Paul McCartney’s custom-made Morris Mini Cooper. Worldwide’s annual schedule also includes The Scottsdale Auction in Arizona in January and The Texas Classic Auction in Arlington in April, as well as stand-alone auctions of significant private collections.