During their August 18 and 19 Pebble Beach Auctions, Gooding & Company will present selections from the John O. Bohmer Estate, offered entirely without reserve. A lifelong car lover and enthusiast, Mr. Bohmer’s deep passion for all things automotive began with metal toys on his basement floor as a child in rural Minnesota, and eventually realized into a sustained hobby of restoring and collecting classic cars for over 70 years until his passing last year at the age of 101. Following his time serving in World War II, Mr. Bohmer began restoring cars, developing a special affinity for barn finds. He would frequently scour through midwestern towns in search of his next great restoration project. Mr. Bohmer’s collection at one point grew to include over 150 cars, before it was pared down to the grandest prewar models, including 12-cylinder Packards and 16-cylinder Cadillacs. His finest possessions included examples featuring custom coachwork by the likes of Howard “Dutch” Darrin and Raymond Dietrich. Mr. Bohmer frequently took his cherished cars to classic car meets or caravan driving tours, and prioritized their preservation for historic value.
Here are a few top cars from his collection to know:
The Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Series Packards of 1932 to 1934 are especially revered among classic car enthusiasts for their elegant designs featuring the new V-shaped vertical radiator shell, flowing fender lines, and a wide selection of coachwork in the most popular body styles. Coupled with Packard’s proven quality, engineering, and driving dynamics, these were among the best-built automobiles ever to be offered to the public at the time. At considerable extra cost, the Individual Custom line was available to customers who desired something more, and the creations by Dietrich Inc. in this period are simply beyond compare. The rare Model 1108 Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich offered here is an Eleventh Series model from 1934, often referred to as the ultimate expression of the Twelve’s design. Thought to be one of as few as 12 known to exist, it was purchased by John O. Bohmer in August 1963, fulfilling a dream of owning a Dietrich Packard. The car was summed up by him as “…one of my favorite keepers,” in his book, A Man and His Cars: The Ultimate “Barn Find” Collector.
Initiated in 1926 with development led by Owen Nacker, the breathtaking Cadillac V-16 debuted in 1930 and ruled the shrinking, elite-car market through 1937 with its original overhead-valve design. Offered with a stunning array of 72 body styles, the 1930 edition represents the bulk of V-16 production, with 3,251 examples built. Lovingly referred to as “Madame” by the Bohmer family, this 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Convertible Coupe was purchased by John O. Bohmer at an April 1958 classic-vehicle auction in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. As the costliest automobile purchased to that time by Mr. Bohmer, this handsome V-16 was initially earmarked for restoration. The restoration was eventually completed in 1993–1994, with the car handsomely presented throughout as now offered.
Among the most adventurous Classic Era automobiles, the Packard Darrin Convertible Sedan was only produced for 1940, with just 11 examples built on the 138" wheelbase Model 1807 Super Eight chassis. John O. Bohmer acquired the Packard in mid-2014. Nicely preserved and presented, this Packard Darrin features numerous period accessories including driving lights, bumper guards, radio, heater, backup light, and Econo-Drive overdrive.
Reintroduced as the “Twin Six” for 1932, Packard’s all-new V-12 models were soon renamed “Packard Twelve” and built through 1939. According to correspondence on file between John O. Bohmer and the Packard Club, this 1937 Packard Twelve 1507 Convertible Coupe is one of 69 built and one of just 27 examples known with confirmed ownership by 1995. The Packard required total restoration, which was subsequently undertaken by Scott Arnstrom of Lakeville, Minnesota. Completed work included an engine rebuild and a carefully considered refinish in a nonstandard, yet extremely complementary, 1965 Buick Riviera hue.
While the Cadillac Series 90 V-16 Convertible Sedan offered here is already quite rare as one of just 308 Sixteens built for 1938 (not counting bare chassis and test/development cars), it is rarer still as one of only 13 produced with five-passenger, convertible sedan coachwork. Following his purchase in 1954, Mr. Bohmer and several friends drove the V-16 back to Brooten, Minnesota, during an extraordinary road trip that formed the subject of a three-part article, which is included in the vehicle’s file. While the Cadillac remained unused for the next three decades, it was eventually restored to its wonderful, current condition. The restoration included body work, a new paint finish, an engine rebuild, and methodical service to the Cadillac’s various systems.
Envisioned as the “Baby Duesenberg” and built only for 1936 and 1937, the Cord 810/812 remains an undisputed collector favorite. Featuring a front-wheel drivetrain, the dashing 810/812 was powered by a Lycoming V-8 engine mated to a four-speed gearbox operated with the electric Bendix preselector system. The streamlined body of the 810/812 remains one of the finest automobile designs ever, penned by former Duesenberg chief stylist Gordon M. Buehrig, who was hired back from General Motors in September 1933 by Harold T. Ames, president of Duesenberg Inc. In June 2012, this beautiful 810 was sold as part of the expansive Salmon Brothers Collection in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Purchased by collector and businessman John O. Bohmer in September 2014 through Vault Classic Cars in Fullerton, California, this Cord is a nicely presented and enjoyable example of these daring and advanced 1930s icons.
Built from 1930 to 1937 in original overhead valve form, and from 1938 to 1940 with L-head architecture, Cadillac’s mighty V-16 remains a crowning achievement of the prewar era. Marque authorities note that the 1939 edition of the Sixteen is quite rare, with only 134 built, not counting two bare chassis and two unassigned engines. This wonderfully presented 1939 Cadillac, with Convertible Coupe coachwork by Fleetwood, was originally a V-8-powered example. However, during a restoration that commenced under John O. Bohmer in 1991, the Cadillac was expertly upgraded to V-16 specification.
