A European car enthusiast and collector, who never sold a car in his life, is poised to make £20 million (about $31.2 million) by selling his fleet of 48 luxury, pre-war automobiles; including 13 Rolls-Royces, 2 Maybachs, and multiple models from Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, and Lincoln.
Henrik Frederiksen and his late wife Vivi shared a mutual passion for classic cars, particularly ones that pre-dated World War II. In a Daily Mail article, Frederiksen notes that the allure of pre-1939 cars has everything to do with their uniqueness. He says, “It was a time before mass production, at least for higher quality cars. You can see the hand of the craftsman, you can see the details, the beauty of each component.” He believes that each car is “a work of art” with an individual story behind it.
Frederiksen has acquired his cars from all over the world. A majority of his collection are British, American, and German made vehicles. His 1914 Mercedes 28-95 Phaeton was purchased from Uruguay and even has the original leather Louis Vuitton trunk in the back.
Every one of the vehicles is in working condition and has been a part of Frederiksen’s collection kept at the immense Lyngsbækgård Manor in Denmark, originally a summer retreat for the Danish Royal Crown in the 16th century. In an interview with CNN, Frederiksen says the location “is a paradise. It’s quiet, beautiful, lots of space. It’s all very special.”
Frederiksen plans to hold an auction at the manor on September 26th, when he will begin bidding farewell to his prized collection.