News Release: The 4th Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Benefit Extravaganza a Monumental Success

AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM 

NEWS RELEASE - 09/07/09

 

For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Kendra Klink, Operations Director

September - 2009
260-925-1444 / kendrak@automobilemuseum.org

 

The 4th Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Benefit Extravaganza
a Monumental Success

 

Model J Duesenberg Sold for $2.9 Million!

 

 AUBURN - The 4th Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Benefit
Extravaganza took place on Thursday, September 3, 2009 and was a great
success for the Museum.  

 

Actor Edward Herrmann served as the emcee for the event.  He is known for
his work on The History Channel, "Gilmore Girls," "The Practice," "Oz,"
"Grey's Anatomy," "Law & Order," as well as work done on stages on Broadway
and feature films such as "The Great Gatsby," "Annie," and "Richie Rich."
Herrmann opened his welcome to all guests by saying "It's wonderful to be
around car people.  People in Auburn are my people."

 

The evening was filled with silent auction items, gourmet dinner, cocktails,
live music and live auction.    The room was filled with 340 guests, servers
dressed in "Auburn" garage jackets and lively auctioneers, Robert Pass,
Richie Clyne, Bill Parfet, and Ed Herrmann.  The room fell as silent as a
tennis match as the crowd watched bids volley back and forth from a phone
bidder and a bidder in the room for the 1930 Duesenberg Model J originally
purchased by publishing giant William Randolph Hearst for Marion Davies.
The museum staff sat breathless as the bids grew larger and larger and
finally "Sold for $2.9 million dollars" was announced by the auctioneer.  

 

"I couldn't be more pleased by the sale of the Duesenberg, the record
attendance for the event, the ambiance of the room and the financial
contributions made by our generous guests," said executive director Laura
Brinkman.  

 

Other notable live auction items sold include a necklace from Bradley Gough
Diamonds, dinner for 12 at Eddie Merlot's, a tour of Jay Leno's personal
garage and the opportunity to be a character in an upcoming Clive Cussler
novel.  

            

Last year the museum made approximately $100,000 during this benefit, and
this year the goal was $200,000 to support education programming.  Staff
members and Board of Trustee members feared that meeting this goal would be
next to impossible during to the weakened economy.  "For the whole night, we
made just shy of $335,000 - that is the silent auction, live auction and
outright cash donations to our programming efforts," Brinkman said the day
after the event.  "Our Board of Trustees was just really happy with that and
in our meeting today, we are already talking about next year!"

 

"This is just the tip of the iceberg as to what our guests can expect in the
future."  Kendra Klink, operations director said.  "We have a commitment for
a gallery sponsorship that will premiere on September 2, 2010 at our 5th
Annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Benefit Extravaganza, so
mark your calendars, save that date and we look forward to seeing you next
year!"

 

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum - where the world's finest cars
of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage and special
interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three
floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of
the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. year round. In 2009, plan a
visit and bring your family to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum,
a place where automotive history comes to life! www.automobilemuseum.org 

 

Photo Caption:  Executive Vice President Matt Short and Board of Trustee
member Edward Herrmann describe automobiles for auction at the 4th Annual
Benefit Extravaganza for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

 

 

Kendra Klink

Operations Director

 

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

Accredited by the American Association of Museums

1600 South Wayne Street

P.O. Box 271

Auburn, Indiana 46706

Office: (260) 925-1444 x 32

Fax: (260) 925-6266

 

kendrak@automobilemuseum.org

 

 <http://www.automobilemuseum.org> www.automobilemuseum.org