Santa Monica, Calif. (September 22, 2025) — Gooding Christie’s presented the Stan Lucas Collection Auction on Saturday, September 20 at the late collector’s Lucas Classic Tires in Long Beach, California, drawing the focus of the global prewar automotive collecting community in what will surely be remembered as a market-defining moment. The auction house sold 100% of the 99 lots on offer, presented entirely without reserve, for a total of $33.9 million, far surpassing expectations. Nearly three quarters of the lots sold well within or beyond their pre-auction estimates, indicating strong buyer interest, the healthy status of the prewar market, and most importantly, the quality of offerings in the collection procured by the late Stan Lucas. A total of 9 lots sold for over $1 million, and important world auction records were established for Oldsmobile, Doble, Mercer, Stevens-Duryea, Stutz, and Crane-Simplex. The market-leading results achieved by Gooding Christie’s at Stan Lucas reflect the auction house’s particular strength in holding unique estate and collection sales in previous years, particularly with notable collections of prewar automobiles, building upon a reputation of success in this realm and beyond.
The top lot of the sale was the 1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring with incredible provenance including time in the esteemed collections of James Melton, Dr. Samuel L. Scher, Richard C. Paine, and Matt and Barbara Browning. Acquired by Stan Lucas in 2000, the Oldsmobile more than doubled its pre-auction high estimate by selling for an incredible $5,065,000, setting a new marque record at auction in the process. Other top sellers included the beautifully restored, Murphy-bodied 1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe, which sold for $3,085,000, and the rare, fabric-bodied Vanden Plas 1930 Bentley Speed Six Sports Tourer, which achieved $2,095,000 after being offered for public sale for the very first time. The exquisite 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout also sold for an impressive $2,040,000.
The Stan Lucas Collection famously contained the single greatest assemblage of Doble steam cars in private ownership, and resultingly, all five Dobles in the sale sold exceptionally well. The Pebble Beach Class Award-winning 1924 Doble Series E Roadster set a new world record at auction for the Doble name, nearly doubling its pre-auction high estimate by achieving $2,205,000. Additionally, the 1925 Doble Series E California Top Phaeton garnered $1,435,000, and the 1925 Doble Series E Coupe sold for $1,435,000.
Brass Era highlights that bode well at the auction included the 1909 Simplex 50 HP Toy-Tonneau, which sold for $1,655,000, and the exceptionally well-documented 1912 Mercer Type 35-C Raceabout, which achieved $1,352,500. The 1921 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout achieved a new record at auction for an L-Head Mercer when it sold for $412,000, and the preservation class 1915 Stutz Model 4F Bulldog Demi-Tonneau also set a new world record at auction for the model by achieving $973,000. Additional record-breakers included the incredibly well-preserved, unrestored 1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 Dual-Cowl Phaeton, which set a new record for the Crane-Simplex marque by selling for $918,000. The powerful six-cylinder 1910 Stevens-Duryea Model Y Seven-Passenger Touring also set a new marque record at auction for Stevens-Duryea, achieving $390,000.
In addition to all of the vehicle lots on offer, a selection of 25 automobilia lots were presented during the sale, with many of them reaching incredibly high prices at auction. Such was the case with the top automobilia lot of the sale, the Large Illuminated Firestone Tires Sign, which sold for $93,750 – a figure over nine times that of its pre-auction high estimate!
“The incredible success of our Saturday auction proves as a testament to the lasting legacy of Stan Lucas and his commitment to collecting only the greatest Antique, Brass, and Classic era cars,” said Gooding Christie’s President, David Gooding. “This historic auction brought together some of the most prominent collectors the world over, and as a result, many lots far exceeded estimates and notable world records were set throughout the day. In over 60 years of collecting, Stan never sold a single car, and we are truly honored to have had the opportunity to bring his cherished collection to market – celebrating not only the incredible collector that he was for all of these years, but also the very cars, models, and marques that he so cherished throughout his lifetime.”
Top Five Lots:
Lot 38 - 1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring, sold for $5,065,000
Lot 71 - 1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe, sold for $3,085,000
Lot 43 - 1924 Doble Series E Roadster, sold for $2,205,000
Lot 50 - 1930 Bentley Speed Six Sports Tourer, sold for $2,095,000
Lot 64 - 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout, sold for $2,040,000
New World Auction Records:
Lot 38 - 1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring, sold for $5,065,000 (a world record for the marque)
Lot 43 - 1924 Doble Series E Roadster, sold for $2,205,000 (a world record for the marque)
Lot 34 - 1915 Stutz Model 4F Bulldog Demi-Tonneau, sold for $973,000 (a world record for the model)
Lot 40 - 1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 Dual-Cowl Phaeton, sold for $918,000 (a world record for the marque)
Lot 31 - 1921 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout, sold for $412,000 (a world record for the model)
Lot 66 - 1910 Stevens-Duryea Model Y Seven-Passenger Touring, sold for $390,000 (a world record for the marque)
Rétromobile Paris Auctions Dates: 28 January - 1 February 2026 Location: Rétromobile Paris, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodingChristies X: @goodingandco Instagram: @goodingandcompany YouTube: @GoodingChristies Phone: +1.310.899.1960
About Gooding Christie’s Gooding Christie’s is world renowned for its market-leading automotive auctions, private brokerage, and unparalleled service in the international collector car market with over two decades of operation. Gooding Christie’s consistently sets world record prices and redefines market standards through both its live auctions and Geared Online platform with best-of-category cars across numerous verticals. The commitment to presenting the highest quality of consignments while operating with the utmost integrity and transparency has provided the company an unmatched reputation of trust and respect. Offering a wide range of services including private and estate sales, appraisals, collection management, and financing options, Gooding Christie’s is ready to assist you. To browse available offerings, discover upcoming auctions, view conditions of sale, or learn more about consigning your vehicle or registering to bid at a future sale, please visit goodingco.com.
Media Inquiries: Pauline Pechakjian pauline@goodingco.com +1 (310) 383-7437
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