RM offers 1908 Olds Limited Prototype at Amelia Island

RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, is set to continue its strong track record in Northern Florida, March 12, when it returns to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel for its annual Amelia Island sale.

Now in its 13th year, the well-established auction will showcase over 100 quality motor cars along with a series of vintage motorcycles.

For those with a predilection for early automotive design, the offering boasts a superbly restored 1908 Oldsmobile Limited Prototype. Regarded as among the most important of the big, brass-era cars, initial experimentation on the Olds Limited began in 1908, with the finished car launched in 1910. Only a select number of Limiteds were produced in total – of which, only 13 examples are known to survive today, two 1910s, ten 1911s and one 1912, along with the example pictured here, the sole surviving prototype from 1908. Beautifully presented after a fresh, high-point restoration, it has had just a few owners from new, including Barney Pollard. (Estimate: $600,000 - $800,000).

“No other brass era car is as large or impressive as the Limited, yet they are so well built that surviving examples effortlessly complete 1,000-mile tours, easily reaching speeds of 70 mph or more”, says Mike Fairbairn, vice-chairman and co-founder, RM Auctions.

“With so few survivors, it is certainly among one of the most important artifacts of early American motoring.

A great example of how Limiteds are so highly prized by collectors is offered in RM’s sale of an unrestored, barn-find example in Hershey 2007 for a new world record price of $1.65 million. We expect the example on offer at our Amelia Island sale will attract strong interest.”

Enthusiasts with a penchant for early automobiles will also appreciate the 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Open Drive Landaulette, chassis number 1797, which is set to join the Olds Limited at the March 12 sale. A very rare and desirable early Silver Ghost, chassis 1797 was originally a Derby trials car and then used for the London Open Trials. It was later restored by renowned Silver Ghost restorer David Hemmings and shown at Pebble Beach and Meadow Brook, where it won its class at both events. (Estimate: $400,000 - $600,000.)

Building on the company’s reputation as the specialists for estate and private collections, RM’s Amelia Island sale will also feature the distinguished personal collection of Jack and Marilyn Tallman. As respected enthusiasts who have been involved in the hobby for many decades, the Tallmans have assembled an outstanding collection of cars, many of which they’ve owned for over 40 years and have enjoyed and driven in countless events and tours, both at home and overseas. In total, 11 automobiles – spanning over 30 years of design – will be offered ‘without reserve’. Highlights include: a one-of-a-kind 1912 Packard Model 1-48 Custom Runabout, built for Packard Director, Frederick Alger (Est. $300,000 - $400,000); a 1903 Cadillac Model A Rear-Entrance Tonneau, which comes to market for the first time in 40 years, having completed the London to Brighton run on two separate occasions (Est. $75,000 - $100,000); and a handsome, multiple award-winning 1930 Cadillac V16 Roadster, originally built as a show car (Est. $350,000 - $450,000).

Full event details and a complete car list for RM’s Amelia Island sale are available online at www.rmauctions.com. For those unable to attend the event in person, RM offers a wide range of remote bidding options, including absentee, Internet, telephone and iPhone bidding, and the event will stream live online at www.rmauctions.com to provide real-time coverage of the event.

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