Update-InstaGRAM report: The Sam Mann Collection Auction
Sam Mann and his wife, Emily, are putting 22 automobiles and motorcycles up for auction through RM Sotheby’s on August 13, 2026 in Monterey, California, during the week of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance. Recently, we visited Sam and were given the opportunity to view and learn more about his jaw-dropping collection. In this article, I will showcase the cars being offered at auction and highlight some of the fascinating history of each.
Fun fact: Sam has not only played a large part in restoring the cars he and his team have worked on, but has also had fun driving and racing them. They don't just sit and look pretty; they get to stretch their legs. Additionally, the formula of every car in the Sam Mann Collection is a two seater with an emphasis on clean and beautiful lines.
The digital catalog for the Sam Mann Collection can be visited by clicking here.
Article by Gram Spina The majority of the photography is courtesy of RM Sotheby’s photographer Darin Schnabel. The rest of the images are mine.
Update 8/14/2026: Twenty vehicles were sold for a total of $34.660 million.
A YouTube of the auction and prices sold (including buyer's fees) have been added to the post.
It is arguably a once in a lifetime moment when a collection of this magnitude goes up for public auction. When I took this photo, my jaw dropped nearly to the floor.
A video of the auction held on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
To get a sense of these cars in motion and to hear the words of Sam and Emily Mann, enjoy this YouTube video produced by RM Sotheby's.
1919 Harley-Davidson Model 4-19 Bicycle
The first lot up for auction is also the only one that never was powered by an engine. In 1919, Harley-Davidson produced a limited number of bicycles with the idea of selling them to kids who, hopefully, once they earned their motorcycle licenses, would buy a Harley.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $15,000
1915 Indian 8-Valve Twin Board Track Racer
Here is a prime example of the type of bike found at a board track racing event in the 1910’s.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $60,000
1908 Indian Twin
This Indian motorcycle is from the second year of production for the two-cylinder engine design. It produces twice the amount of power compared to the single-cylinder Indian engine; a total of four horsepower.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $48,000
1912 Marsh Metz
A Metz was a short-lived motorcycle company that was one of the first to design a frame that differentiated itself from bicycle frames by being purpose-built for an engine and having a lower center of gravity.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $69,000
1910 Pierce Four
My favorite motorcycle in the collection is this Pierce-Arrow. It is the first ever production American motorcycle to be powered by a four-cylinder engine. I never knew that Pierce Arrow made motorcycles, and they are few and far between.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $150,000
1938 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante by Gangloff
The 1938 Bugatti Type 57 is a prime example of the types of cars Sam Man collects: rolling pieces of art.
Sam was quoted in the auction description saying, “As I get older and the world gets noisier, I found that I enjoy driving this car much more than my Type 57SC Atalante—it is smoother, quieter, and furnishes ample power for traveling on road or track. The space behind the seat can carry all our luggage, and our granddaughter in her car seat—a true family sports car!”
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Did not meet the reserve: High bid $1.05 million
Seeing this car in person was a treat; I took in all the handmade craftsmanship and attention to detail that was put into this Bugatti when it was newly being built back in 1938. Take note of the front profile of the hood, where the bodyline dips quickly into the purple. The split bumper that, in my opinion, is both elegant and subtle.
1929 Du Pont Model G Two-Passenger Speedster
The auction is offering a very rare opportunity for someone to purchase a Du Pont automobile. Du Ponts rarely hit the auction circuit and most are still owned by the Du Pont family. This particular car was the 1929 New York Auto Show display vehicle and is the only speedster example to have a folding windshield.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $885,000
The headlights are gorgeous, but according to Sam, they aren't very practical. Additional unique features include the fenders/running boards which are one piece of hand-shaped metal. A machine could never produce a body panel at this level of complexity; it can only be achieved by handmade talent using metallurgical techniques.
1932 Chrysler CH Imperial Speedster
This 1932 Chrysler was specifically built as a design study for Walter Chrysler himself. There was essentially no limit to materials used to create this Chrysler at the time of its construction. Under Sam ownership, it won best of show at the 1991 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $3,305,000
The paint is a deeply rich dark purple that is very difficult to capture on camera. The image here is the best that I could get to showcase the color of this one-of-one Chrysler.
1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe by Rollston and Bohman & Schwartz
One of the most famous Duesenbergs ever is this 1935 Model JN Convertible. It was restyled to Clark Gable’s wishes by Bohman & Schwartz to make it more his style. The significant coach-built features of this Duesenberg include: a lengthened hood section, dual hood scoops, dual spare tires in the rear, and a color-matched grill surround.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $9,080,000
Here is a historical image of Clark Gable posing next to his car. In this image, you can see the dual spare tire covers and the rear fender skirts.
Needless to say, this is Howard’s favorite car in the collection. Of all the cars being offered for sale, this one has the highest estimated price at $8 million.
Here's Sam and Howard standing next to the Clark Gable Duesenberg.
1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Cabriolet
The 1937 Cord is the collector car that Sam has owned the longest (33 years to be precise). It is the desirable supercharged variant of the Cord and has been driven in a variety of events.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $168,000
1937 Delahaye 135 Grand Prix
One of the race cars in the collection is this 1937 Delahaye. Sam raced this car on a number of tracks across the country and across the pond at a Le Mans vintage racing event in 1991.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Did not meet the reserve.
Here is a photo of Sam racing at Laguna Seca. He also regularly raced at Lime Rock.
1934 Avions Voisin C23/24 Roadster by Saliot
This is one of the cars that very few would even be able to identify; well, it is a one-of-one, so unless you saw it at an event or had a vivid memory of seeing it in a book, you likely never knew it existed. This 1934 Avions Voisin one-off creation by Parisian Avions Voisin impresario Raymond Saliot is truly special. In 2002, it won best in show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance. In 2004, it also won best in show at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elégance.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $2,810,000
As with most works of art, the longer you look, the more you see. The design of how the running boards sweep into the front fenders is mesmerizing.
These are the taillights for the 1934 Avions Voisin, they are far from practical, but their beauty overtakes practicality.
1927 Bentley 6½-Litre Short Chassis "Bob-Tail" Tourer
This Bentley is the perfect hybrid of a race car and a coach-built rolling art piece. It has the desirable short wheelbase and has been to numerous Bentley events across America with Mann behind the wheel.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $665,000
1913 Mercer Model 35-J Raceabout
The 1913 Mercer is the only original paint car in his collection. “It's only original once, so we kept it this way,” Mann told us during our visit. It is a later-produced Mercer with a four-speed transmission. Mann and his wife have driven countless miles in the Mercer, getting a lot of attention along the way.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $3,635,000
We asked him about the old luggage strapped to the side of the car and he told us his wife found it and thought it was perfect to strap to the car. Ironically, the luggage was in great condition when she found it, but over time it began to weather and match the car's overall patina.
1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Monza Speedster
A rare short-wheelbase Hispano-Suiza H6C Monza Speedster that was essentially a street legal race car. In the auction description, Mann said: “We ran it on a Hispano rally out of Sedona, covering about 1,000 miles. On one section, we climbed from virtually a couple thousand feet up to 8,000 feet or more through the ‘twisties,’ and this car did it in high gear, accelerating all the while. I was blown away by the torque and the horsepower, and the ability of Hispano-Suiza’s legendary brakes to stop the car, from no matter what speed, quickly, smoothly, and quietly.”
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $527,500
1904 Oldsmobile Model 6C "Curved-Dash" Runabout
The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is a staple of early automotive history and the oldest car in the Sam Mann collection.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $58,800
1914 American Underslung Model 642 Roadster
This particular Underslung is from the last model year of overall production and is the only surviving example of the Model 642. There is nothing quite like the American Underslung. The suspension is mounted on top of the frame, resulting in a wheel-and-tire height of 40 inches, while the body sits lower to the ground, giving it a lower center of gravity for handling.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $940,000
Here is an image I took of the American Underslung during our tour. To get a sense of just how impressive the height of the fenders are, note it's up to 6’5” Greg O’s waist.
1937 Delahaye 145 Cabriolet by Franay
This Delahaye is not only a rolling art piece, it is also a historic race car. This car is said to be the one that famously beat Germany’s racing team in the 1937 Prix du Million.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $3,415,000
Under the hood, you can see why this Delahaye is nicknamed Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. According to the auction description:
“In 1937, the French government decided to take on the Germans’ challenge, and in collaboration with the Automobile Club de France, posted a prize of one million francs, the Prix du Million, for the constructor and driver who could beat the speed record set by Mercedes-Benz at Montlhéry by the date of 31 August. Two French manufacturers responded, Bugatti with their Type 51, and Delahaye with the new 245-horsepower, 12-cylinder 145, developed with the abundant funding of expatriate American socialite Lucy Schell to contest the new 4 1/2-liter Grand Prix formula. Bugatti, for all their glory, soon succumbed to mechanical failure, but the Schell-Delahaye team kept pounding along, and in the fading hours of the challenge succeeded in beating the German record and securing the Million Franc Prize with the great René Dreyfus behind the wheel.”
“The car, identified by historian André Vaucourt as chassis number 48773, the Pau and Cork winner as well as the Prix du Million car, was stored for the duration of World War II, then acquired in 1946 by a private customer, who commissioned the great coach-builder Marius Franay to transform it into something of the ultimate Delahaye road car. Franay built a body that was almost otherworldly in comparison to his usual creations, with dramatically sweeping and deeply curved front fenders bearing a knife-like bladed edge of chrome. The result was arguably the most beautiful body that Franay ever produced, and certainly one that did justice to the magnificent performance of the full-bore competition car underneath.”
1948 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet "Vedette" by Chapron
This was Mann’s first coach-built car in his collection. It also has an impressive racing history.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $472,500
The interior of this Delahaye is pure art. I was stunned by the steering wheel and switches made of lightweight Lucite.
Driven by legendary actress Michèle Morgan in the 1948 Paris-Anet Automobile Rally, it was also the winner of the Grand Prix d’Honneur and Grand Prix at the Grand Concours d’Élégances Automobiles de Paris in June 1948.
1913 Hispano-Suiza T15 Alfonso XIII Torpedo by Jaquot
Nicknamed the Spanish Mercer, this Hispano-Suiza is an insane road-going race car. Described by Sam as “a simply exquisite piece, built like a Swiss watch by precision craftsmen.”
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $692,500
1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Boat Tail
When you think of Rolls-Royce, you think of a car to be chauffeur-driven around in while you're in the back seat, but that’s not what this Rolls-Royce was hand-built to do. It is a coach-built two-seater with a cowl back constructed out of wood with a boat-tail rear. It is also a real-life example of the 1/24 scale diecast Franklin Mint Precision Model.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold: $1,875,000
1937 Delage D8-120 S Aerodynamic Coupe by Pourtout
Hands down, this was my favorite car of the Sam Mann collection. The one and only 1937 Delage Aerodynamic Coupe. Ahead of its time with extraordinarily clean and graceful coachwork.
The auction lot link can be visited here.
Sold:$5,780,000
The story of how this Delage was originally built is best said in the auction catalog description.
“Design work was ably handled by the great young Georges Paulin. Paulin was, of course, a pioneer in the use of aerodynamics in automobile design, reflected no better than in the prototype Delage, whose shape was fashioned by wind tunnel testing, using first a scale model, then a full-sized model of the eventual finished car. (This was, historians Richard Adatto and Diane Meredith noted, work that predated the use of the method in Pourtout’s Embiricos Bentley.) The final product was carried out almost entirely in aluminum, save only for the front fenders, which were an unusual choice for performance coachwork of the period due to the costliness of the alloy.”
“The builders of the car were late in applying for the Paris Salon of October 1937, and by the time the Aerodynamic Coupe had been completed, applications were closed. There was a simple solution, one that Delage and Pourtout would not be the first or the last to command: They drove the car over to the Grand Palais and parked it in front of the building, right where any incoming press would be sure to see it—and see it, they did. An article in the French automotive review, EnRoute, praised “the very advanced design from the coach-builder Pourtout.”
Mann told us that the best viewing angle is the rearward three-quarter view. I had chills up and down my spine when I took this picture, and once again I am getting chills as I write this now. In 2005 it was awarded best of show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance.
We would like to thank Sam Man for allowing us to visit him and his incredible collection.
Here's Greg O and Sam Mann taking a closer look at Clark Gable's Duesenberg chassis and suspension.
Comments