Edward II – 1930 Hacker-Craft 30′ Runabout To Be Presented At RM Amelia Island Auction

Edward II Photos by Wayne Davis ©2013 Courtesy RM Auctions

The 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Northeast Florida is scheduled for March 8-10, 2013. Now in its second decade, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is among the top automotive events in the world. Always held the second full weekend in March, “The Amelia” draws nearly 250 rare vehicles from collections around the world to The Golf Club of Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island for a celebration of the automobile like no other.

Since 1996, the show’s Foundation has donated over $2 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. and other deserving charities on Florida’s First Coast.
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Now in its 15th year, the RM Auctions Amelia Island sale is the official auction of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and this years single-day sale on March 9th is shaping up to be better than ever, featuring a superb roster of more than 80 blue-chip collector cars.

In addition to the wide selection of collector cars this year, in conjunction with Dave Bortner at Freedom Boat Service, RM Auctions will be presenting a very rare 1930 Hacker-Craft for auction this year. Here’s the details from the RM Auctions 2013 Amelia Island on-line digital catalog.

Lot 188 – 1930 Hacker-Craft 30′ Triple Cockpit Runabout

Auction Estimate $225,000 – $300,000

John Ludwig Hacker was one of the preeminent naval architects of the American 20th century. A prolific designer, beginning his career in the early-1900s, he was among the first designers to espouse the “planing” hull, realizing that in order to go faster, the hull of the boat would have to ride on top of the water, not plow through it. In 1918, he designed six standard runabouts for the Belle Isle Boat and Engine Company, boats that became famous as “Belle Isle Bear Cats,” and launched Hacker to prominence. He established the Hacker Boat Company, and the Dolphin models, both 22 feet and 26 feet, were among his first.

As the 1920s came to an end, America’s obsession with speed extended to all motorized vehicles: airplanes, automobiles, motorcycles, and speed boats. Records were set and broken, and faster hulls and bigger engines were the order of the day. Hacker-Craft boats were among the most coveted, and the 1930 models were introduced to great fanfare.

Hacker’s ads weren’t short of hyperbole: “Hacker-Craft are hand-built. ‘Skimping’ in materials and workmanship is never practiced in the Hacker shops to achieve lower prices. Price-cutting sins against quality—and quality is a paramount consideration in selecting a boat. You’ll discover that Hacker-Craft are not volume production boats. They are carefully and skillfully built from the finest materials known to the boat builders’ art.

From their chromium plated cutwaters to their solid oak strut members, every inch of a Hacker-Craft presents a sturdy picture of integrity and wholesome design. From their copper riveted (not screw fastened) double planked bottoms to their luxuriously comfortable genuine leather upholstering, the Hacker-Craft guarantee, enduring quality and greater owner satisfaction, always applies. A Hacker-Craft is never expensive by comparison.”

Edward II is Powered by a 250 HP Sterling Petrel Six-Cylinder Engine

This 30 foot triple cockpit was purchased new by actor Edward Everett Horton, who used her on Lake George in New York. Horton appeared in “just about every” comedy movie in the 1930s, including three Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals. His career surged again in the 1960s, with appearances on F Troop, Batman, and as the narrator of the “Fractured Fairytales” segment of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. In describing his career, Horton said, “I have my own little kingdom. I do the scavenger parts no one else wants, and I get well paid for it.” In addition to his compound in Encino, California, he enjoyed his cottage on Lake George, and Edward II, until his death in 1970.

The boat then passed into the hands of one Dr. Thorp, who owned it until he died in the early-1980s. It was retrieved from the boathouse where it was stored, and it has since been owned by several prominent boat collectors. It was restored by Morin Boats in Michigan. The hull sides and decks are mostly original, with only a couple planks replaced in the sides where dock impact had occurred over the years and one in the deck.

The bottom was replaced with a two-layer WEST system epoxy technique. The leather upholstery was carefully matched to the original Hacker pattern and color. Unfortunately, the original engine has been lost to history, but the boat is now powered by an original 250-horsepower Sterling Petrel six cylinder, which was optional from the factory at a $400 premium. The engine was restored by noted marine engine expert Danny Acierno.

Edward Everett Horton said of his long, successful career, “It’s not that I really need the money, it’s simply that I like money—lots of it. I must admit, I’m sometimes over-frugal.” It’s a testament to the beauty and longevity of this Hacker-Craft to know a man who described himself as “over-frugal” enjoyed owning it for 40 years. – RM Auctions
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This year’s RM Amelia Island Auction has an outstanding array of American and European built collector cars in their lineup. So after you buy the 1930 Hacker-Craft, if you are looking to pick up a collector car for those weekend trips to the lake this summer, here are just a few examples of what you can find at the auction. (This is actually my fantasy collector car wish list, in no particular order, from the RM Catalog – Texx)

1949 Ford V-8 Custom Station Wagon

Auction Estimate $45,000 – $65,000

100 hp, 226 cu. in. OHV L-head “flathead” V-8 engine, three-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, wishbone-type longitudinally-mounted rear spring suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 114 in.

• Handsome combination of Midland Maroon Metallic over tan
• Flathead V-8 performance with excellent parts availability
• Older restoration that presents nicely and drives well
• Perfect entrée into the world of woodies

Photo ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Nothing compares to the classic styling of a Ford Woody Wagon

1954 Packard Caribbean Convertible

Auction Estimate $90,000 – $110,000

212 bhp, 359 cu. in. inline eight-cylinder engine, two-speed Ultramatic Drive automatic transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, semi-floating rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 122 in.

• Offered from the collection of Eugene Beardslee
• Packard’s limited edition 1950s custom cruiser
• Well-restored in beautiful colors and fully optioned

Photo by Erik Fuller ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Packard was always very good at finding the right color combinations which made their cars stand out from the competition back in the day – Photo by Erik Fuller ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe

Auction Estimate $35,000 – $50,000

• America’s best-loved collectible automobile
• Rare 283-horsepower fuel-injected V-8
• Sympathetically restored California car

The Quintessential American Classic – Photo ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions

1965 Ferrari 275 GTB by Scaglietti

Auction Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000

• Low-mileage, numbers-matching example
• Single ownership for the last 37 years; time-capsule originality
• Unique competition-style driveshaft features
• One of very few short-nose cars constructed with an “interim” driveline
• One of only approximately 250 short-nose examples produced
• FCA National Concours winner
• Ferrari Classiche certified

Photo by Darin Schnabel ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

One of Ferrari’s most esteemed 1960s GT models, the 275 GTB debuted at the 1964 Paris Salon, slated as the successor to the long-running and highly successful 250 GT. Utilizing an enlarged 3.3-liter version of the classic Colombo V-12, the 275 was the first Maranello road car to offer independent rear suspension and a rear-mounted, five-speed transaxle, which contributed to the model’s ideal weight distribution.

Ferrari 280 bhp, 3,286 cc overhead cam V-12 engine, triple 40DCZ/6 Weber carburetors

1958 Fiat 600 Jolly by Ghia

Auction Estimate $65,000 – $85,000

• Extremely rare four-cylinder 600-based Jolly
• Recent rotisserie restoration, including fully overhauled matching-numbers engine
• Believed under 22,000 actual miles
• Ready for summer fun in the sun

Photo by Darin Schnabel ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

We are planning to be in Florida to attend this years RM Amelia Island Auction and also to check out the prestigious 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. So if you have an opportunity to come by and experience the events for yourself, make sure you look us up, and if not, we will be reporting daily from Amelia Island throughout the weekend, with results from the auction.

For more information on the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance you can Click Here and for the RM Amelia Island Auction you can Click Here. You can also review the impressive 2013 RM Amelia Island on-line digital catalog by Clicking Here.

One last thing. For those interested in participating but unable to attend the event in person, RM offers a broad range of remote bidding options, including absentee, Internet and telephone bidding and the sale will stream live online at rmauctions.com and click “Watch Live” to provide real-time coverage of the event.

Happy Bidding,
Texx
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