One-offs and oddballs in the Riyadh auction by Worldwide Auctioneers

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The first thing that comes to mind when Saudi Arabia and classic cars are mentioned together? We think of 1970s Stutz Bearcats rather than 1920s ones. But the fact is that there is a massive market out there. Worldwide Auctioneers lives up to its name and realizes just that. And so, in collaboration with the General Entertainment Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the auctioneer presents an exclusive sale in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital city, on November 23. Worldwide Auctioneers boss John Kruse said: “In my belief, Saudi Arabia is possibly the top emerging market worldwide right now. The crown prince has certainly made some moves – women having driver’s licences, opened flexibility with modified automobiles – as part of his 2030 plan to reduce the emphasis on just oil by creating some additional cultural and entertainment and automotive-type events.”

For sale in Riyadh

Let’s have a look at some of the cars offered for sale in Riyadh. Yes, there are plenty of muscle cars, Ferraris, ‘slant nose’ Porsches, a couple of 600 Pullman Mercedeses and a gull-winged ‘1000 SEC Coupe’. Among the PreWars you’ll find some real oddities. How about a 1938 Bentley Boattail Speedster dubbed ‘The Black Prince’? Or even much weirder – a 1916 La Bestioni with the 16-litre engine and dual chain drive that was transformed into a… Batmobile? Other Specials include a 1936 Cadillac named ‘Shangri La’ and a 1936 Ford Maharaja replica.

But on a more serious note, there are some incredible cars to be sold. There is a long-wheelbase Delahaye 135, also from 1936, with competition engine and Figoni & Falaschi body, which at one stage, was entered by its original millionaire owner in the Monte Carlo Rallye. There is an early Duesenberg J-type with a most unusual body by Bohman & Schwartz that was fitted to the car after it fell into the Santa Barbara Channel when it was only a couple of years old. It fits the car very well, we think. Apart from the Gangloff bodied Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, which will no doubt become a top seller, we also particularly like a unique FIAT 519S with Torpedo body by Bertone from 1924. That car was only recovered from an Australian barn in 2001 by PreWarCar enthusiast Hans Compter and restored over five years with the aid of Storico Fiat in Torino. Definitely a car worthy of a King. Or a Sheikh.

Words by Jeroen Booij. Pictures courtesy WorldWide Auctioneers.

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