Gooding & Company Announces Estate of Mark Smith Auction

Gooding & Company has added a special auction to its 2023 calendar — the Estate of Mark Smith Auction. Offered entirely without reserve, the sale will take place at Mr. Smith’s own Midland Motors Museum in Lynchburg, VA. Lots begin crossing the block at 11 a.m. eastern time on Friday, April 7, with previews on April 6 and prior to the auction on April 7.

Mark J. Smith was a fervent collector who owned a wide variety of vehicles, including Brass Era antiques, American Classics, European classics and postwar sports cars. He especially favored original and un-restored early cars rather than over restored show cars.

“Mark Smith was one of the most knowledgeable and passionate enthusiasts our industry has ever known, and I had the great pleasure of personally knowing him throughout my career in the collector car world,” said Gooding & Company President and Founder, David Gooding. “A brilliant and refined collector, Mark put together an incredible and varied collection of primarily unrestored prewar American and European treasures, which he often acquired after years of research and persistence. A collector through and through, Mark greatly prized his greatest automotive finds, most of which are on offer here at the Estate of Mark Smith Auction.”

One of the spectacular American-made lots on offer is a 1932 Chrysler CG Imperial Custom Roadster by LeBaron that was made even more sleek and menacing by its first owner Dr. William F. Whelan. A two-time entrant at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in the Prewar Preservation class, the CG has had only five owners in its 90-plus year history.

Others include a 1907 White Model G “Roi des Belges” Touring with a two-cylinder 30-hp compound steam engine, and  a 1907 Ford Model K Touring complete with an older restoration that has aged gracefully. Both are rare finds today with just four known examples of the White Model G and 23 of the Ford Model K believed to be extant.

The European offerings include a 1935 Bentley 3½ Litre Drophead Coupe that is one of two Bentleys bodied by coachbuilder Antem of Paris and a 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Offener Tourenwagen — one of five known remaining examples. A matching-numbers and unrestored car, the Mercedes has also been entered in the Prewar Preservation class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as well as the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance where it was an Amelia Award for the 500K/540K class.

Details about the Estate of Mark Smith Auction can be found here

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Chad Taylor

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