The Late Filmmaker Richard Donner’s Classic Car Collection Heads to Auction Online
January 12th, 2022
By Fang Block
Richard Donner with the 1965 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet
The classic collection of the late film director and producer Richard Donner will be auctioned online via Gooding & Company from Jan. 24-28.
The curated 10-car collection has a presale estimate of between US$458,000 and US$599,000, although many cars are offered without reserve, the Santa Monica, Calif.-headquartered classic car auction company said.
Donner started his prolific career with directing TV shows, including The Twilight Zone, Gilligan’s Island, and The Wild Wild West. He made his foray into films in late 1960s and went on to direct some of Hollywood’s most financially successful movies, including Superman (1978), The Goonies (1985), the Lethal Weapon series (1987-1998), and the Free Willy and X-Men franchises. He died in July at age 91.
Donner “cherished and enjoyed many of these cars over several decades of ownership,” David Gooding, president and founder of Gooding & Company, said in a statement. “And we trust that their new owners will appreciate the background and history of each and every one of these vehicles.”
1962 Volkswagen 23 Window Samba Transporter
Leading the collection is a 1965 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet, which has a presale estimate of between US$140,000 and US$180,000. The automobile was originally finished in slate grey with a black leather interior. Donner acquired the car from its first owner in 1971 and resprayed it in black.
Offered for the first time in more than five decades, the Cabriolet “is the perfect option for Porsche connoisseurs keen on preserving its current condition or carrying out a complete restoration,” Gooding & Company said.
Another long-time member of Donner’s collection was a 1962 Volkswagen Type 2 23-Window Deluxe Microbus, with an estimate of between US$70,000 and US$90,000. The model features a red-and-white two-tone livery, a retractable canvas sunroof, and gray vinyl interior with three-row seating.
Other cars from this collection include a 1948 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible; a wood-bodied 1949 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon; a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; a rare 1962 Crown Imperial Convertible; and a 1939 Ford Deluxe Four-Door Phaeton Convertible.
All vehicles will be available for registered bidders to view at Scottsdale, Ariz., from Jan. 26-28 during the Arizona Auction Week.
