by Gabrielle DeSantis

Bring a Trailer just dropped the hammer of the most expensive car ever sold through the online car auction site. The vintage car in question isn’t some flashy Bugatti or Ferrari; it’s none other than a 1935 Duesenberg Model JN convertible. These are very rare and very valuable, but for a site that started as a slightly more curated Craigslist, this Duesenberg sale is pretty unbelievable. Needless to say, Bring a Trailer has come a long way. 

What is the most expensive car ever sold on Bring a Trailer?

Bring a Trailer has completely changed the used car industry in a matter of a few years. It started as a depository for used car ads that the founder Randy Nonnenberg thought was cool and should be bought by other people who also thought they were cool. It’s basically the coolest reason to start a business ever. 

Fast forward some years later, and the site is a full-blown auction site attracting not only cooler buyers but also cooler cars – and by “cooler,” in this case, I mean expensive. 

This record-breaking 1935 Duesenberg claimed the most expensive car ever sold on Bring a Trailer with the final bid of $1,341,000. According to CarScoops, this Duesenberg beat the previously most expensive car on Bring a Trailer by over $100,000. 

How much is a Duesenberg worth? 

Obviously, this one is worth $1,341,000, but is that what all 1935 Duesenberg’s are worth? Duesenbergs are scarce and pricey cars. Duesenbergs were among the fastest, most luxurious cars of its day. Given the tough economic times when these high-end cars were built, very few people could afford them, which meant very few were ever made. 

The legendary car brand has long held a fascination for American collectors thanks to its scale and luxury. Like everything else, the value of a Duesenberg is all about the model, year, and condition. However, even in the simplest configuration and worst condition, Duesenbergs can fetch quite the fortune. 

For properly restored JN models, prices average in the high six figures. Other top-tier models like the SJs can fetch in the multi-millions. This JN went for big money because it is beautifully restored and has an attractive history. 

Why was this Duesenberg the most expensive car on Bring a Trailer? 

According to CarScoops, this one was first purchased by Herbert N Lape Sr. of Cincinnati, a prominent figure in the shoe industry. The car eventually moved to California, and from there, moved around for a number of years. After it was restored, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation bought it in 2000. 

The 1935 Duesenberg JN was held as a part of the IMS museum until this Bring a Trailer. However, while owned by the IMS, it rolled through multiple parades and even carted F1 legends Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher around the track. 

What makes the Duesenberg so special? 

These hyper-lux cars were made to be the most elegant cars of the time and were also among some of the fastest cars made during the period. This Duesenberg JN is powered by a 6.9-liter straight-eight engine that produced 265 hp here and could produce up to 320 hp in the supercharged configuration.

Experts believe this is the original powerplant, but the paint is, of course, not original. In fact, this Duesenberg has had a few paint jobs over the years. Even with the many changes over the years, this Duesenberg still beat out a $1,234,567 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing as the most expensive car ever sold on Bring a Trailer. However, the price for the Duesenberg wasn’t nearly as fun as the Merc’s. (Take a closer look at that price.)

RELATED: The 25 Most Expensive Cars Sold At Auction

The post Super Rare Vintage Car Just Became the Most Expensive Car Sold on Bring A Trailer appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

From regular consumers to celebrities, the Tacoma has earned itself a solid audience over the years. That’s thanks in part to the Toyota truck’s reputation for soldiering solidly and reliably through a multitude of conditions and jobs. And while chip shortages caused some delays, the pickup has crossed a major production milestone. To celebrate, the specific truck that crossed it, a 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, is coming up for auction.

Over three generations, Toyota has made over 1,000,000 Tacoma trucks

The Tacoma technically wasn’t the first pickup truck Toyota sold in the US, though it did spring from it. In 1969 the Japanese brand introduced the Hilux here as, quite simply, the ‘Toyota Truck,’ MotorTrend explains. But in 1986, the US-market Hilux split from its overseas counterpart, swapping a solid front axle for comfier independent suspension. And in 1995, this truck became the first-gen ‘1995.5’ Toyota Tacoma.

Today, the Toyota Tacoma is in its third generation, which was introduced in 2016. To be sure, the Taco’s life here hasn’t always been smooth sailing. For several years Tacomas struggled with accelerator and clearcoat issues. And transmission problems have cropped up even in relatively recent models.

Overall, though, the Toyota Tacoma has proven to be a reliable and capable pickup. And while it’s gotten larger and heavier over time, it’s also better-equipped and even more capable. But not just in terms of towing and payload capacities, though. Models like the Tacoma TRD Pro have become popular bases for overlanding builds. And there are plenty of bolt-on off-road parts available for ‘lesser’ TRD trims straight from the factory.

All of these factors make for a solid recipe for sales. That’s why Toyota recently announced that it’s built over 1,000,000 Tacomas. And now, that one-millionth Tacoma is coming up for auction.

The one-millionth Taco, a 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, could be yours

Although Toyota recently announced that it was auctioning off the one-millionth Tacoma, the truck wasn’t built in 2021. Instead, the milestone-making truck, a 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro, was built on October 4^th, 2019, at Toyota’s San Antonio, TX plant, Road & Track explains. But the truck “is nearly factory fresh,” R&T points out, given that it only has 158 miles on the clock.

Mechanically, the one-millionth Taco is a regular 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro. So, under the hood is a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. That goes to a six-speed automatic and 4WD with a two-speed transfer case. And while the 2022 TRD Pro has a few upgrades compared to the 2020 model, the latter isn’t terribly different in terms of hardware.

Like the 2022 model, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro has Fox internal bypass shocks, 16” wheels, multiple skid plates, a suspension lift, and Rigid Industries LED fog lights. Plus, a locking rear differential and TRD exhaust, Car and Driver notes. And being a 2020 model, this Tacoma TRD Pro has an 8” touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as LED lighting. Plus, the seats are leather with red contrast stitching.

How much will the one-millionth Taco go for at auction?

If you want to get your hands on the one-millionth Tacoma, Mecum Auctions is selling it. It will be auctioned off at the Monterey 2021 event on August 12-14, 2021, and 100% of the proceeds are going to the Seattle Children’s Hospital. And included with the truck is a certificate from Toyota confirming the pickup’s production number.

It’s difficult to tell how much this Tacoma will go for. For comparison, a 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro starts at $44,325. But since these trucks tend to hold their value, the one-millionth Taco could sell for that much, if not more. Hopefully, though, the winning bidder will let the truck out to hit some dirt.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: The 2020 Toyota Tacoma Is Better Than the 2021 Tacoma

The post 1,000,000 Tacos Served: A Toyota Tacoma Milestone Heads to Auction appeared first on MotorBiscuit.