RM Sotheby’s Returns to Hershey with Landmark Automotive Treasures

October brings the collector fraternity back to Hershey Lodge, where RM Sotheby's has established itself as the autumn destination for American automotive heritage. This year's sale arrives with particular distinction: a carefully assembled catalogue that spans from meticulously preserved everyday classics to the kind of foundational rarities that shaped motoring history.

The preview commences today, with a traditional cookout from six to eight o'clock this evening, followed by two full days of viewing and sale on Wednesday and Thursday. Collectors may bid in person or stream the action live online, a now familiar convenience that has broadened participation without diminishing the energy of the room.

The Collection

The roster speaks to RM Sotheby's curatorial discipline. Remarkably preserved low-mileage examples form the backbone of any serious sale: a Chevrolet C10 that has travelled just three thousand miles represents the kind of untouched American truck that grows rarer each season. Such examples appeal to collectors seeking authenticity over restoration, vehicles frozen in time rather than reimagined.

Alongside these period survivors sit machines of greater rarity and sporting ambition. The first Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster produced carries the weight of innovation: the Auburn, the Cord and the Duesenberg formed a tri-branded manufacturing triumvirate, and the 851's supercharged engine earned its place among the most technically advanced American cars of the 1930s. To own the first example is to possess the prototype narrative itself.

The Duesenberg Model J, equally, commands reverence. Perhaps no American automobile has captured the imagination of collectors as completely as the Duesenberg: each J represents a pinnacle of pre-war craftsmanship, engineering and ambition. These were the cars that defined an era.

Viewing and Sale Structure

The preview schedule has been organised to welcome both seasoned collectors and newcomers. Today's early viewing, paired with the informal cookout gathering, establishes the convivial atmosphere for which the Hershey event has become known. Wednesday and Thursday each offer full-day viewing from nine o'clock in the morning until five o'clock in the evening, with the auction commencing immediately thereafter both evenings.

This rhythm allows collectors to spend proper time with the cars, to examine detail and condition, to speak with specialists, and to arrive at their bidding decisions with confidence. The live online broadcast extends the sale beyond the room itself, connecting bidders across time zones and geography.

Significance Within the Market

RM Sotheby's Hershey sale has evolved into an institutional moment in the American collector car calendar. The venue itself, Hershey Pennsylvania, carries its own automotive pilgrimage weight, home to the Hershey Museum and a community deeply rooted in automotive culture. The auction house returns annually, a gesture that underscores commitment rather than opportunism.

Sales of this character, anchored by authentic preservation and rarities of genuine historical significance, continue to resonate with collectors who value substance over novelty. The combination of accessible examples and museum calibre pieces creates a sale structure that rewards patience, knowledge and discernment.

Collectors and enthusiasts are invited to attend in person or follow the sale remotely. The full catalogue and bidding details are available through RM Sotheby's official channels.

Key Facts

• Location: Hershey Lodge, Pennsylvania
• Dates: 7–8 October 2026
• Preview Opening: 6 October 2026, 4–8 PM (cookout 6–8 PM)
• Viewing Hours: 7–8 October, 9 AM–5 PM both days; auction begins 5 PM
• Highlights: Chevrolet C10 (3,000 miles); first Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster produced; Duesenberg Model J
• Bidding Access: In-person and live-streamed on YouTube

The Simply Luxury View

RM Sotheby's annual return to Hershey has established itself as an essential moment for serious American automobile collectors. The consistent calibre of the sale, the geographic significance of the venue, and the auction house's refined curation have positioned it as a counterbalance to the increasingly international and speculative character of some collector car markets. This year's particular emphasis on preserved, low-mileage examples and foundational rarities such as the Auburn 851 and Duesenberg Model J reflects a collector base increasingly focused on authenticity and historical significance.

For discerning buyers, such sales reward research and patience. The presence of truly rare examples like the first Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster produced appeals to collectors building collections of substance rather than fashion. The Hershey sale demonstrates that depth and discipline in acquisitions remain the hallmarks of enduring collecting practice.

Official brand website: rmsothebys.com

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