In October, RM Sotheby’s will hold an auction for an impressive collection of classic cars that were recently discovered in a junkyard in Los Angeles, United States.
Among the vehicles to be auctioned are several rarities, such as Lamborghini Miuras, Porsche 356s, and a Mercedes-Benz 500K from 1935, a unique piece originally built for the racing legend Rudolf Caracciola.
The collection was amassed over decades by Rudi Klein, an eccentric scrap dealer, and has been kept secret until now.
Klein, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in the 1950s, built his fortune dealing mainly with European sports car parts. He acquired the Mercedes-Benz 500K in 1978, shortly after the car won its category at Pebble Beach. However, after an engine failure in 1980, Klein stored the vehicle in his junkyard, where it remained hidden for nearly 45 years.
The 500K’s connection to Caracciola makes it a highly valuable piece, considered by many as the holy grail of Mercedes-Benz automobiles. In addition to being one of the brand’s most important cars, its history includes stints with figures such as dictator Benito Mussolini, before being hidden in Ethiopia and eventually making its way to the United States.
Now, with the imminent unveiling of Rudi Klein’s collection, the auction promises to bring to light other rare and mysterious vehicles. RM Sotheby’s will release the full list of items in September, and the auction in October is sure to attract global attention, especially from enthusiasts eager to discover what other automotive gems have been hidden for so long.
Source: Car and Driver | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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