Malcolm S. Pray Jr was a known entity in the American automotive scene. He owned the largest Audi and Saab dealership in America, presided over several dealer councils and had a considerable classic car collection. Sadly, Pray passed away this past August, and his family has consigned 17 of his beloved cars to RM Auctions - most notable among them this beautiful Delahaye roadster.
With coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi, this 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster was termed by Pray's wife Natalie as "Malcolm's French Mistress" and it's not hard to see how he could have fallen to its charms. The Parisian coachbuilder had famous French illustrator Géo Ham design the Art Deco bodywork, completed in two-tone navy and ivory over a deep red interior.
It'll be joined on the auction block at Amelia Island by sixteen other classics from the Pray Collection, including a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet and a 1957 BMW 507. RM isn't saying how much it expects these classics to fetch when the gavel drops on the Floridian isle come March, but as far as the Delahaye goes, there are few things we wouldn't give to own a piece of rolling artwork like this.
With coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi, this 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster was termed by Pray's wife Natalie as "Malcolm's French Mistress" and it's not hard to see how he could have fallen to its charms. The Parisian coachbuilder had famous French illustrator Géo Ham design the Art Deco bodywork, completed in two-tone navy and ivory over a deep red interior.
It'll be joined on the auction block at Amelia Island by sixteen other classics from the Pray Collection, including a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet and a 1957 BMW 507. RM isn't saying how much it expects these classics to fetch when the gavel drops on the Floridian isle come March, but as far as the Delahaye goes, there are few things we wouldn't give to own a piece of rolling artwork like this.
ESTEEMED PRAY COLLECTION TO HEADLINE RM'S 16TH ANNUAL AMELIA ISLAND SALE
Amelia Island
- RM Auctions announces exceptional estate collection of Malcolm S. Pray Jr. for its 16th annual Amelia Island sale, March 8
- Renowned businessman and philanthropist's collection features no less than 17 automobiles, headlined by a 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi that he owned for half a century
- Held in conjunction with the famed Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, RM's well-established single-day sale will feature a roster of more than 80 blue-chip motor cars
- A frequently updated list of consignments for RM's Amelia Island sale is available online at www.rmauctions.com
BLENHEIM, Ontario (December 18, 2013) – RM Auctions is delighted to announce the consignment of the esteemed Pray Collection to its Amelia Island, Florida sale, March 8 at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton.
Malcolm Pray always considered the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance to be a highlight of his year, enjoying all that the unique setting had to offer from an auction to a concours to a joyful reunion with friends on the green. With his passing in August 2013, the Pray family has entrusted RM Auctions with the sale of no less than 17 of Malcolm's vehicles to be offered at RM's Amelia Island sale.
"Malcolm has been a part of the RM family for over 20 years and our entire team is honored to present a selection of his beloved cars on behalf of the Pray family," says Gord Duff, Car Specialist, RM Auctions.
Malcolm S. Pray Jr. grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and after college and service in the Air Force ending in 1955, quickly became renowned in the automotive industry at large. Malcolm was not only the largest Audi and Saab dealer in the United States but was President of the American International Automotive Dealers Association and President of both the Porsche-Audi, and Volkswagen Dealer Councils. In 1970, he was recognized by Time Magazine with the Time Quality Dealer Award. Mr. Pray was also an award-winning member of many civic, charitable, and political organizations and in 1986, after the tragic loss of his only son, he raised the funds to build the Malcolm S. Pray III Memorial Building at the Ernest Thompson Seton Scout Reservation in Greenwich. He has also raised over $2 million through the Friends of Scouting campaign that he initiated nine years ago. Malcolm's automobile museum in Banksville, New York, is also the home of the Pray Achievement Center, an organization he founded to mentor and motivate young people to achieve their life goals, inspiring over 8,000 youth since its establishment in 2001. Proceeds from the sale of Malcolm's automobiles will benefit The Pray Achievement Center where his daughter Sabrina will work with the foundation to help continue the important work begun by her father.
The jewel of the Pray Collection is an extremely rare 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi, chassis 48667. Perfectly matched to the Concours' focus on celebrating exceptional design, the car termed as "Malcolm's French Mistress" by his wife Natalie, is one of just two surviving 135 Competition Court Roadsters bodied by the innovative Parisian firm and designed by prominent French painter and illustrator Géo Ham. Like many of the cars in the collection, the striking Delahaye comes out of long-term, passionate ownership by Mr. Pray, who purchased the car in 1964 and lovingly retained, showed and rallied it for nearly half a century.
"RM's sale held at the Amelia Island Concours, two events that Malcolm has attended since their inception, is the perfect setting to offer such important cars that he enjoyed for so long," adds Duff. "We're thrilled to see that the sale of his collection will continue to support Malcolm's dedicated philanthropy, just as he would've wanted."
Further highlights offered from the Pray Collection, which represents an array of both American and European marques, include: a stunning 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet by Pinin Farina, chassis 2093GT, which has been a part of the collection since 1969 and is complete with its original engine and factory hardtop; along with a 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster, chassis 70156, owned by Malcolm since 1972 and featuring a factory hardtop and rare rudge wheels.
As the official auction house of the famed Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, RM's Amelia Island sale will feature a magnificent selection of more than 80 handpicked automobiles, with an emphasis on important and historic sports and racing cars along with elegant coachbuilt classics. Full events details, including a frequently updated list of consignments, are available online at www.rmauctions.com or by calling toll free at 1 800 211 4371 (+1 519 352 4575 outside North America).
For those unable to attend the event in person, RM offers a broad range of remote bidding options, including Internet, absentee, and telephone bidding, and the auction will stream live online at www.rmauctions.com to provide real-time coverage of the sale.
Amelia Island
- RM Auctions announces exceptional estate collection of Malcolm S. Pray Jr. for its 16th annual Amelia Island sale, March 8
- Renowned businessman and philanthropist's collection features no less than 17 automobiles, headlined by a 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi that he owned for half a century
- Held in conjunction with the famed Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, RM's well-established single-day sale will feature a roster of more than 80 blue-chip motor cars
- A frequently updated list of consignments for RM's Amelia Island sale is available online at www.rmauctions.com
BLENHEIM, Ontario (December 18, 2013) – RM Auctions is delighted to announce the consignment of the esteemed Pray Collection to its Amelia Island, Florida sale, March 8 at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton.
Malcolm Pray always considered the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance to be a highlight of his year, enjoying all that the unique setting had to offer from an auction to a concours to a joyful reunion with friends on the green. With his passing in August 2013, the Pray family has entrusted RM Auctions with the sale of no less than 17 of Malcolm's vehicles to be offered at RM's Amelia Island sale.
"Malcolm has been a part of the RM family for over 20 years and our entire team is honored to present a selection of his beloved cars on behalf of the Pray family," says Gord Duff, Car Specialist, RM Auctions.
Malcolm S. Pray Jr. grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and after college and service in the Air Force ending in 1955, quickly became renowned in the automotive industry at large. Malcolm was not only the largest Audi and Saab dealer in the United States but was President of the American International Automotive Dealers Association and President of both the Porsche-Audi, and Volkswagen Dealer Councils. In 1970, he was recognized by Time Magazine with the Time Quality Dealer Award. Mr. Pray was also an award-winning member of many civic, charitable, and political organizations and in 1986, after the tragic loss of his only son, he raised the funds to build the Malcolm S. Pray III Memorial Building at the Ernest Thompson Seton Scout Reservation in Greenwich. He has also raised over $2 million through the Friends of Scouting campaign that he initiated nine years ago. Malcolm's automobile museum in Banksville, New York, is also the home of the Pray Achievement Center, an organization he founded to mentor and motivate young people to achieve their life goals, inspiring over 8,000 youth since its establishment in 2001. Proceeds from the sale of Malcolm's automobiles will benefit The Pray Achievement Center where his daughter Sabrina will work with the foundation to help continue the important work begun by her father.
The jewel of the Pray Collection is an extremely rare 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi, chassis 48667. Perfectly matched to the Concours' focus on celebrating exceptional design, the car termed as "Malcolm's French Mistress" by his wife Natalie, is one of just two surviving 135 Competition Court Roadsters bodied by the innovative Parisian firm and designed by prominent French painter and illustrator Géo Ham. Like many of the cars in the collection, the striking Delahaye comes out of long-term, passionate ownership by Mr. Pray, who purchased the car in 1964 and lovingly retained, showed and rallied it for nearly half a century.
"RM's sale held at the Amelia Island Concours, two events that Malcolm has attended since their inception, is the perfect setting to offer such important cars that he enjoyed for so long," adds Duff. "We're thrilled to see that the sale of his collection will continue to support Malcolm's dedicated philanthropy, just as he would've wanted."
Further highlights offered from the Pray Collection, which represents an array of both American and European marques, include: a stunning 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet by Pinin Farina, chassis 2093GT, which has been a part of the collection since 1969 and is complete with its original engine and factory hardtop; along with a 1957 BMW 507 Series II Roadster, chassis 70156, owned by Malcolm since 1972 and featuring a factory hardtop and rare rudge wheels.
As the official auction house of the famed Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, RM's Amelia Island sale will feature a magnificent selection of more than 80 handpicked automobiles, with an emphasis on important and historic sports and racing cars along with elegant coachbuilt classics. Full events details, including a frequently updated list of consignments, are available online at www.rmauctions.com or by calling toll free at 1 800 211 4371 (+1 519 352 4575 outside North America).
For those unable to attend the event in person, RM offers a broad range of remote bidding options, including Internet, absentee, and telephone bidding, and the auction will stream live online at www.rmauctions.com to provide real-time coverage of the sale.
Featured Gallery 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi
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