Who would have thought that incredible cars were hiding behind the metal sheets of Rudy Klein's scrapyard? A sale organised by RM Sotheby's unveils all the treasures of this incredible collection.
For a long time, this place has been known to lovers of abandoned cars. Located in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Porche Foreign Auto, a company specialising in the resale of used European car parts, was an impregnable fortress that hid some exceptional car wrecks. The master of the premises was Rudy Klein, a German who left to try his luck in the United States at the end of the 50s. Trained as a butcher, he quickly devoted himself to his passion for fine European cars, initially trading in them before turning to the resale of used parts. It has to be said that North America was the epicentre of this type of vehicle in the world, and accident wrecks were legion.
Recovering rather than throwing away
Klein began amassing a large number of cars in tin sheds adjoining a desert wasteland, which was soon filled to the brim with decrepit dream machines. The owner soon decided to set aside the most interesting vehicles for his personal collection in a place that only he could enter. Renowned throughout California for his extensive stock of Porsche parts, Klein helped numerous collectors until his death in 2001.
Tons of parts
His two sons then took over until a few weeks ago, when RM Sotheby's announced a double auction of Porche Foreign Auto stock and the Klein collection. The details of the lots are enough to send shivers down the spines of any classic car collector, as they include a large number of mechanics from prestigious marques such as Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes, all of which have been stored for a very long time and are in need of complete restoration. There are also some incredible pieces, like a Porsche 904 GTS door or a 356 roof.
Very safe tastes
However, the extent of Rudy Klein's car collection is astonishing. As well as numerous Porsche 356s and 911s, there are also many Mercedes, including some very tired 600s, Maseratis, Aston Martins, Horches and many other marvels. Most of the cars are damaged and/or incomplete, but there are a few gems that are candidates for a well-deserved restoration.
Exceptional pieces
Among the stars of the sale are the Mercedes 500K ex Rudolph Carracciola, which will fetch millions of dollars, and one of the 29 Mercedes 300 SLs built with an aluminium body. Among the rarities on offer, the Porsche 356 A Carrera Reuter is likely to send bidders into a frenzy, as will the magnificent Horch 855 Special Roadster bodied by Gläser, the 3 Lamborghini Miuras in need of restoration, and the original NSU RO80 2 Porte + 2, a Pininfarina prototype exhibited at the 1972 Brussels Motor Show. It's a safe bet that we're going to see record-breaking bids.
