Auburn, IN. May 19, 2020. Auburn, Indiana. Worldwide Auctioneers has confirmed today that three of the celebrated stainless steel Fords built for Allegheny Ludlum Inc. will go under the hammer in Auburn this September, an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a trio of historic cars first conceived by the pioneering stainless steel producer in collaboration with the Ford Motor Company in 1935. Comprising a 1936 Ford Deluxe Sedan, 1960 Ford Thunderbird and 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible, the Stainless Steel Fords will be offered without reserve as a single consignment at Worldwide's annual Auburn Auction, held over Labor Day Weekend in Indiana on September 5th.
Allegheny Ludlum and Ford would later collaborate on two more stainless models, the 1960 Thunderbird and 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible. Just two Thunderbirds rolled off the assembly line in 1960, with bodywork formed from T302 stainless. Both retain their original exhaust systems today, after 60 years and more than 100,000 miles each. The 1967 Lincoln Convertible was the last of the stainless steel cars produced. Except for the vehicle's body, all other parts and equipment on the car are standard for the 1967 Lincoln Convertible. Only three were made, once again proving that stainless steel's enduring beauty is matched by its toughness.
'Just eleven of these iconic stainless steel cars were ever produced and this trio has amazingly been retained by the original corporate owner from new,' said John Kruse, Principal and Auctioneer.
'They are extraordinary artifacts from a dynamic era of innovation for the both the steel and automotive industries in America. After lifetime custodianship Allegheny Ludlum believe that they deserve to take their place in a significant collection or museum where they can be more widely appreciated in a collector car environment for generations to come, and we are honored to have been entrusted with their sale.'
The Auburn Auction is scheduled to take place at Worldwide's Auburn, Indiana global headquarters on September 5th. Further details are available online at worldwideauctioneers.com or by calling 1. 260.925.6789.
Photo credit: Worldwide Auctioneers
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In 1935, executives at the Ford Motor Company and Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Ludlum Steel joined forces on the production of a solid stainless-steel car, a 1936 Deluxe Sedan. That car became the focal point of a campaign to showcase the extreme durability and aesthetic appeal of the new metal. Only six of the 1936 Fords were built in total and all were far from being simply promotional trailer-queens; each was to log over 200,000 miles in the hands of Allegheny Ludlum executives until their 'retirement' in 1946, outlasting most of their non-stainless body parts and multiple engines in testament to the superiority of the dynamic metal. Of the six stainless steel cars that rolled off the Ford assembly line in Detroit in 1936, four exist today, including this example that was retained by Allegheny Ludlum - now known as Allegheny Technologies - itself. The company donated the 1936 Ford Deluxe Sedan with brushed stainless steel body to the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, where it is on display as part of the permanent collection.
About Worldwide Auctioneers. Worldwide Auctioneers is a U.S.-based, boutique catalogue auction company that is unique in having principals who are owner auctioneers, wholly invested in seamlessly delivering the optimal result for every client. In addition to the acquisition and sale of classic automobiles at auction, it offers an extensive range of personalized services to the serious collector, including appraisal, collection direction and consultancy, estate planning and asset management. For those seeking to sell a car or collection privately, the company's private sales division incorporates The Salon, a 200,000-square-foot, climate controlled and purpose-built showroom housed at its Auburn headquarters, along with a dedicated memorabilia division. Worldwide's annual schedule includes The Scottsdale Auction in January, The Pacific Grove Auction on the Monterey Peninsula in August (postponed until 2021 in response to COVID-19 restrictions), The Auburn Auction, held over Labor Day Weekend in Indiana, and stand-alone auctions of significant private collections.
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