Not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most expensive cars in the 144-lot catalogue is the 1911 Oldsmobile Autocrat, otherwise known as the ‘Yellow Peril’. A legendary Brass Era racing car, it’s expected to fetch 750,000-800,000 US dollars. Meanwhile, the fleet of elegant luxury saloons and convertibles, made popular by dynasties such as the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, demonstrate the rapid development of automotive design in the 1930s. Auburn, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Cord, Lincoln, Marmon, Packard – the variety of manufacturers and their art deco wares on offer is truly impressive. After the rustic ‘Woodies’ of the 1940s came the first proper cars. Then, entering the space age at the end of the 1950s, we saw the introduction of the now distinctive Americana tailfin design. From the catalogue, take the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, the Dodge Royal, the Studebaker Golden Hawk and the wonderfully gaudy pink Ford Thunderbird, for example.
The Hershey sale might have some great classics, but its real draw is the rare, more bizarre vehicles, such as the adorable Nash Metropolitan (offered in both coupé and convertible guises). You can browse the entire Hershey 2015 catalogue in the Classic Driver Market.
