Tag Archives: worldwide auctioneers

A Tiny Hupmobile

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1909 Hupmobile Model 20 Two-Passenger Runabout

Offered by Worldwide Auctioneers | Houston, Texas | May 3, 2014

Photo - Worldwide Auctioneers

Photo – Worldwide Auctioneers

Hupmobile was an American automobile marque produced by the Hupp Motor Company in Detroit from 1909 through 1940. That means the car you see here is from their first year of manufacture.

As you can see, this car is very light and very small. It covered the essentials of motoring in 1909 but today it’s cute and would make a great little car to putt around town in. The engine is a 16.9 horsepower 2.0-liter straight-four. I’m guessing the “20” in Model 20 comes from the displacement. This thing cost $750 when new and about 1,600 were built in 1909 alone. More body styles would be added the following year and the Model 20 would last until 1915.

This car has been restored to a condition that is about as fantastic as you will find a launch-year Hupmobile. It is well-equipped and is described as running and driving very well. It should sell for between $60,000-$80,000. And boy do I love the white tires with the white body! Read more here and see more from Worldwide’s Houston Classic here.

Update: Sold $66,000.

Woodill Wildfire

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1953 Woodill Wildfire Series II

Offered by Worldwide Auctioneers | Auburn, Indiana | August 31-September 1, 2012

Like the Californian featured yesterday, this is another 1950s fiberglass special. Well not really a “special” as it did enter production – in fact, 1953 was the first year for Robert Woodill’s sports car. It came assembled from the factory or could be had as a kit. Series II Cars were Ford based – although mechanicals from other manufacturers were used on occasion (Series I cars had Willys engines). This one has a 3.3-liter Ford V8. The car also only weighs 1,600 pounds, so it should be a performer.

The Wildfire was among the first all-fiberglass sports cars available – barely beating the Corvette to market. Only 24 are believed to have been built – 15 Series I (Willys-based) cars and nine Series II cars. This is the second-to-last Series II car built and one of only two known to exist. Woodill also sold between 100-300 kits.

This car is all-original, having been maintained since the 1970s by a Corvette collector familiar with early fiberglass sports cars. It has only covered 1,602 miles in its life. I’ve seen another Wildfire for sale a few years ago and it was red. I like this one in white better. It could be mine – or yours – for $110,000-$140,000. For the complete lot description, click here. For the rest of Worldwide’s Auburn lineup, click here.

Update: Sold $66,000.

Californian Sport Special

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1955 Californian Sport Special Roadster

Offered by Worldwide Auctions | Auburn, Indiana | August 31, 2012

There are quite a number of fiberglass specials built in the United States in the 1950s when fiberglass was all the rage. This is one of the rarer ones. Many of these cars were built are 1940s-era Fords – engine and chassis.

This car has a 125 horsepower 3.6-lite Ford V8. This one has been restored and looks to be in fantastic shape. It looks sporty and racy. And pretty light, if not spartan. This car was introduced in 1955 – two years after the Corvette, which had a lot more going for it than any  Los Angeles-based startup.

It is estimated that only three of these were built in the 1950s – I’d bet that even less have survived. This is the only one I’ve ever seen. The estimate is $50,000-$60,000 and this car has been for sale for quite a while in Sarasota, Florida for $59,900. For more information from Worldwide Auctions, click here. To see more photos at Vintage Motors Sarasota, click here.

Update: Not sold.

Duesenberg J-462

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1932 Duesenberg Model J LWB Custom Speedster

Offered by Worldwide Auctioneers | Houston, Texas | May 5, 2012

Quick, somebody call Fran Roxas or someone similarly talented, ’cause this Duesey needs a new body. Chassis no. 2522 was one of the later cars built and some records show that it may not have actually been completed and sold until 1935, although it is currently titled as a 1932. Engine J-462 is under the hood, making the standard 265 horsepower.

The original body was a Murphy Beverly Berline – which is attractive. It is thought that the original body was removed and replaced by what you see here sometime in the late 1940s or 1950s. Most of the body panels came off of GM cars of the era. Exotic.

The car is often referred to as the “Tom Mix Duesenberg.” Tom Mix was a silent movie star known for his roles in westerns (I’ve seen a lot of silent films, but never one of his. He is kind of the archetypal movie cowboy). As you can see, this car sports a western motif – but it is also thought that Tom Mix had nothing to do with this car – he died in 1940 and the story attaching his name to the car didn’t appear until the 1970s. Make of it what you will. But it is a Duesenberg.

This car is being offered from the estate of John O’Quinn. It failed to sell at a Bonhams auction in Monterey in 2011. It is being offered in Houston at no reserve with an estimate at $400,000-$500,000, which is pretty cheap as far as Model Js go. Then again, who knows what it will cost to return the car to a more… Duesenberg-like state – if you are so inclined. Or keep it how it is and don’t be just another guy with just another Murphy-bodied Duesenberg (if it’s even legal to say that). This one’s certainly one-of-a-kind.

For the complete catalog description, click here. And for more from Worldwide Auctioneers in Houston, click here.

Update: Sold $297,000.