RM Sotheby's Hershey Auction: 1934 Duesenberg Convertible Berline and One-Off 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Town Car Lead Sales

The collector car market had a busy autumn weekend in Pennsylvania. Old Cars Weekly reports that top sales at RM Sotheby's annual Hershey fall auction included a 1934 Duesenberg Convertible Berline by Murphy and the one-off 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Town Car. A 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz was also among the top 10 sellers, according to Mac's Motor City Garage.

Duesenbergs are considered among the most prestigious American cars of the pre-war era, built as luxury machines with powerful engines and custom coachwork. A Murphy-bodied example represents a well-known Californian coachbuilder. The one-off Cadillac Eldorado Town Car is a different type of rarity, a unique vehicle that was built as a special project, which can make it particularly interesting for collectors.

I have only seen the headline and the list of top sellers, so I do not have the prices or the total for the sale, and readers who want details should check the full results. The auction followed other strong results this month, including the Broad Arrow Zoute sale in Belgium, which achieved a 91 per cent sell-through rate, suggesting healthy interest in high-end classics.

For people interested in classic cars, auctions are an educational resource. Catalogues give detailed histories, and results show how the market values different eras and makes. If you are considering buying a classic, remember to budget for storage, maintenance and insurance, and have a specialist inspect the car. Prices at the top of the market can differ greatly from those of more modest vehicles. Watch for upcoming sales, which will indicate whether this strength continues.

News sources

• Old Cars Weekly – RM Sotheby's Hershey auction 2026 results
• Mac's Motor City Garage – Executive Briefing, 16 Oct 2026

Broad Arrow's Zoute Concours Sale Totals $40.1 Million With 91% Sell-Through

The collector car market has shown strength in Belgium. Old Cars Weekly reports that Broad Arrow Auctions achieved total sales of $40.136 million and a sell-through rate of 91 per cent at its second annual Zoute Concours sale in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. A 1964 Ferrari Lusso was among the top sellers, according to Mac's Motor City Garage.

A sell-through rate shows the percentage of cars offered that actually found buyers, and 91 per cent is high. It suggests that sellers set realistic expectations or that demand for desirable classics remains strong. Collectors often view auction results as a barometer of confidence in the market, particularly for blue-chip cars such as classic Ferraris.

I have only seen the headline figures, so I do not have a breakdown of individual lots or prices, and readers who want that should check the full results. The sale took place at an event in a wealthy seaside resort area, where concours-style events combine car displays with auctions, which can attract serious buyers.

For ordinary readers, the auction world is a window into how cars become cultural objects. Classics are valued for design, history and rarity, and some have increased greatly in value, though prices can fall as well as rise. Anyone thinking of investing in a classic car should be careful about condition, provenance and running costs, and should not treat it only as a financial asset. If you enjoy the subject, many events allow the public to see cars up close. Watch for upcoming sales, which will show whether the strong results continue.

News sources

• Old Cars Weekly – Broad Arrow Zoute Concours auction results
• Mac's Motor City Garage – Executive Briefing, 19 Oct 2026