Gooding Christie’s is honored to present the Stan Lucas Collection Auction, featuring nearly 100 lots of Antique, Brass, and Classic Era cars, motorcycles, and automobilia from the late collector’s estate, all offered entirely without reserve. The sale will take place on Saturday, September 20, at Mr. Lucas’ longtime Lucas Classic Tires facility in Long Beach, California, with admission limited to registered bidders.
Stan Lucas was a lifelong devotee of vintage automobiles, building one of the most respected collections of Steam, Brass, Nickel, and Classic Era vehicles in the world. Over several decades, he and his team assembled, restored, and maintained these cars to the highest standards, and frequently exhibited them at premier concours events, such as Pebble Beach. The American Classics in this sale reflect both the power and elegance of early U.S. automotive design, including standout examples of Auburn, Cadillac, Chrysler, McFarlan, Studebaker, and Duesenberg, all with documented provenance and a record of meticulous care. This auction represents a rare opportunity to acquire historically significant vehicles from an esteemed collection amongst collectors worldwide.
Here’s a closer look at some of the vehicles on offer:
1932 Auburn 12-160 Boattail Speedster (Estimate: $500,000 – $750,000 | Without Reserve)
The Auburn 12-160 Boattail Speedster paired Alan Leamy’s striking bodywork with the newly introduced Lycoming V-12 and resulted in one of the most exciting American designs of the early 1930s. Despite its affordable price tag of under $1,000, the Speedster quickly established a reputation for speed and durability, setting multiple AAA-sanctioned records in 1932, including a flying mile at more than 100 mph. Just 37 V-12 Speedsters were built that year, making them among the rarest and most desirable Auburns of the Classic Era.
Chassis 12-160 1882 is a well-documented example, certified by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club and retaining a known chain of enthusiasts, from California in the late 1940s to Stan Lucas, who acquired it in 1989. Lucas commissioned a detailed, decade-long restoration which revealed body no. 101, believed to be one of the earliest bodies constructed. Finished in Ivory with Carmine trim, the Speedster was shown at Pebble Beach in 2007, where it earned a class award, and went on to achieve Best of Show at the ACD Club West Coast Meet. With over three decades in the Lucas Collection, this rare 12-cylinder Speedster combines exceptional provenance with concours-level presentation.
1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Sport Phaeton (Estimate: $500,000 – $750,000 | Without Reserve)
Cadillac stunned the industry in 1930 with the introduction of its V-16, a 452 CID masterpiece which produced 175 hp with a smoothness and refinement previously unseen in an American car. While most examples were built as formal sedans, just 85 were delivered as the open Sport Phaeton, Fleetwood’s most athletic design on the long 148" chassis. With its flowing fenders, V-shaped windscreen, and finely detailed appointments, the Sport Phaeton quickly earned recognition as one of the most desirable body styles of the Classic Era.
This example was delivered new through Uppercu Cadillac in New York, and retains its original engine and body as documented by a copy of the factory build record. Originally finished in black with a cream coachline, it later joined the collections of noted enthusiasts David Tunick, Gifford Oborne, and Barry Hon, before Stan Lucas acquired it in 1999. Since its displays at Pebble Beach in both 1989 and 2001, the car has retained its older restoration, which has only added to the vehicle’s patina. Held in the Lucas Collection for a quarter-century, this rare V-16 Sport Phaeton combines known provenance, documented authenticity, and a stellar reputation as one of Cadillac’s greatest achievements.
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Custom Phaeton (Estimate: $200,000 – $300,000 | Without Reserve)
Chrysler introduced the Imperial in 1926 as its flagship model, and by the early 1930s, the model had matured into a true rival to Packard and Cadillac. This 1933 CL Custom model is powered by the 385 CID straight-eight with a high-compression “Red Head” cylinder head, producing 135 hp. A mere 36 Custom Phaetons were built in 1933, with about 21 believed to survive today. With its long hood, well-balanced proportions, and striking dual-windshield coachwork by LeBaron, this Phaeton represents one of Chrysler’s finest Classic Era designs.
Chassis 7803650 retains both its original engine and body, confirmed by factory records, and its ownership history is well documented from new. Don Williams restored the car in the mid-1980s and finished it in burgundy with tan leather. This restoration was proudly exhibited in the 1985 Tournament of Roses parade, carrying Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca as grand marshal. Under its ownership by Wayne Huizenga, the Phaeton earned an AACA National First Prize in 2009, and joined the Stan Lucas Collection soon after. A rare survivor with outstanding provenance, this Imperial Custom Phaeton remains one of the most significant Chryslers of the Classic Era.
1926 McFarlan TV-6 Roadster (Estimate: $200,000 – $300,000 | Without Reserve)
Built in Connersville, Indiana from 1921 to 1927, the McFarlan Twin Valve Six was among the most advanced and powerful automobiles of its day. Its immense 572½ CID T-head inline six – the largest engine fitted to any American passenger car – featured three spark plugs per cylinder and produced 120 hp. Everything about the TV-6 reflected the scale and ambition of the Roaring Twenties, from its 141" wheelbase and nickel-plated headlamps, to its price of up to $9,000. A distinctive radiator mascot of Atlas holding up the world completed the car’s commanding presence. Only 19 McFarlans are thought to survive, and just three are TV-6 Roadsters.
This example, chassis 23403, was delivered new in 1926 to Connecticut governor John H. Trumbull and later passed through prominent collectors, including Jack Passey and Otis Chandler. Its engine was rebuilt under Clyde Wade at Harrah’s shops, and it has since been shown and toured extensively, including at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the Tour d’Elegance, and the 2023 HCCA Holiday Motor Excursion. With 54 years of California provenance and a distinguished ownership record, this rare TV-6 Roadster represents a singular opportunity to acquire the ultimate McFarlan.
1931 Studebaker President Model 80 Four Seasons Roadster (Estimate: $80,000 – $120,000 | Without Reserve)
Studebaker, since its founding in 1852, had earned a reputation for reliable, well-engineered vehicles, and was among the first U.S. manufacturers to cast four- and six-cylinder engines in a monobloc design. Introduced in 1928, the eight-cylinder President offered a 337.5 CID L-head engine producing 122 bhp at 3,200 rpm, coupled with a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The 1931 Model 80 Four Seasons Roadster represented the pinnacle of the President, featuring a lightweight, elegant roadster body with semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension front and rear with shock absorbers, and a suite of period accessories including a Lalique radiator mascot, Pilot-Ray, and driving lights. Studebaker built 6,340 Model 80s across all body styles, but only a small fraction as the sporty Four Seasons Roadster; as few as 54 are thought to survive today.
Chassis 7032559 was acquired by Phil Wichard from an enthusiast in Maine and refurbished in 1988 by Jim Hurry’s Fountain Inn Coachworks, earning an AACA National First Prize post-restoration. It later joined the collection of noted enthusiast John Groendyke before becoming part of the Stan Lucas Collection in 2007. With its combination of rarity, elegant coachwork, and historically accurate period accessories, this President Four Seasons Roadster is a highly desirable representation of Studebaker’s Golden Age and a well-documented classic for the discerning collector.
1926 Duesenberg Model A Roadster (Estimate: $25,000 – $50,000 | Without Reserve)
The Duesenberg Model A made history for its advanced engineering, including a race-proven overhead-cam straight-eight engine and the first hydraulic brakes on a production automobile. This example, fitted with sporting Millspaugh & Irish roadster coachwork, exemplifies those innovations, combining elegant lines with a performance-oriented design. Reports suggest it was used in its earliest years by the Duesenberg brothers and their engineers as a test car for future supercharged models, a theory which is supported by the addition of a 5,000 rpm tachometer in the dashboard, (likely installed for such development purposes).
This Duesenberg has long been California-based and was photographed in outdoor storage in the 1950s with postwar license plates. To protect it from public view, it was later disassembled and stored in wooden crates at the Villa Riviera in Long Beach. Its registered owner from at least the mid-1960s, Marjorie Delaplane of Long Beach, offered it for sale in 1990, when it was acquired by Stan Lucas. Accompanied by additional parts, though currently uninstalled, this Model A represents a rare opportunity for an important and potentially rewarding restoration project.
The online catalogue can be viewed here. The auction will take place on Saturday, September 20, at 10:00 am PDT at Lucas Classic Tires, 2842 Temple Ave, Long Beach, California. Registration is required.
