
Some of the Gene Ponder Collection to be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s on 22-24th September. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
I rarely preview a specific auction that is approaching as I much prefer to take a wider panoramic view of the whole market and then cherry pick those cars that catch my eye. Over the last week though I’ve been continually returning to RM Sotheby’s online catalogue for their forthcoming auction of the Gene Ponder Collection between 22nd – 24th September. I’ll have to admit I’d never heard of Gene Ponder but evidently he was a ‘serial entrepreneur’ who made a small fortune in manufacturing kitchen cabinets. I say small fortune it must have been a rather large one as the size of his car and automobilia collection is incredible and it’s all coming up for auction – 120 cars and 1200 lots of automobilia. Not only is the size breathtaking but all the lots seem to be in pristine condition, the level of presentation may even put off those who love their classics to wear their age and patina proudly. Gene Ponder’s collection is based in the city of Marshall in Texas but Ponder obviously had a taste for European sports cars from the prewar era to the sixties. Yes, there are examples of the high end exotica such as the Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster but it was the more humble MGs, Nash Healeys, Austin Healeys and oddities that make this collection a little different. He obviously had a thing about MGs, and particularly red ones it seems, as there are so many variants and specials that I didn’t know even existed let alone seen before. How about the 1953 MG TD Supercharged Special that is reminiscent of a prewar Brooklands racer or the 1956 MG Toyota (!) Special that looks like a diminutive ’50s Ferrari sports car or the MGA that has a curvaceous D Type style nose. There’s another element to this collection that makes it intriguing. It soon becomes clear that Ponder was not an elitist collector as alongside original motoring icons such as a 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder, 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC and not one but three Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupes there are numerous replicas and ‘tributes’ to motoring exotica that are only available to the uber wealthy. For example a replica Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Spider, A 1932 Bugatti Type 55 by Pur Sang and what looks like a 1930s Le Mans Bentley which is in actual fact a 1952 model by Racing Green. They all look immaculate and are all enticingly offered without reserve but buying replicas with nothing more than high end photographs is a risk. At the moment there is no detailed information on the lots and when that is published we’ll know what sort of price level these lots will go for. At present I’m just having fun in my alternative universe where nobody else bids and I get to take my top five lots away at a bargain price. It is tricky narrowing it down to five though…

Wonderful oddity. Looking more like a ’30s car this is a 1953 MG TD Supercharged Special. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.

1938 Alfa Romeo 2900b Mille Miglia Spider Replica. Photo contest of RM Sotheby’s.

1959 MG MGA Twin Cam Special. The body styling just gives it that little bit more of a ‘wow’ factor. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

I’ve always been attracted to these early attempts at streamlining body shapes. This is a 1935 MG PB Airline Coupe. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.

1938 Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic Replica. Interior may not be for the feint hearted (blue leather with matching luggage) but still a breathtaking motor car. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.

1934 MG K1/K3 Magnette Conversion

Jaguar RS 2000 Special. Front grille and body shape reminds me of the early HW Altas. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Okay it hasn’t got wheels but it’s a thing of beauty! 1923 Hacker-Craft 16′ Gentleman’s Runabout Replica. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Not a replica or tribute it’s the real deal – 1960 Mercedes – Benz 300 SL Roadster. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.

1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Spider Replica by Pur Sang. Photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.

1959 MGA Twin Cam Special.

Another MGA variant. This time a 1956 MGA Toyota Special. I’d never heard or seen one before but it looks good…
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