Citroëns Among the 230 Vehicles in the Elkhart Collection up for Grabs
Former payroll processing executive Najeeb Khan filed for bankruptcy last summer, after being accused by KeyBank and several ex-clients of committing multi-million-dollar fraud—and racking up over $126 million in debt. As a result, a court seized Khan’s biggest asset: a classic car collection of 230 vehicles, which was dubbed the “Elkhart Collection” for its location in Elkhart, Indiana. They, along with an assortment of motorbikes and memorabilia, are all to be sold by RM | Sotheby’s at auction on October 23 and 24, 2020 in Elkhart.
Among the assortment of cars to be sold are 5 Citroëns:
1965 2CV Sahara – Offered Without Reserve
Formerly from a prominent collection in Mexico, this older restoration has held up well. It is finished in Desert Sand and, in typical Sahara fashion, and features a roof-mounted spare tire. The interior was redone in the current ownership in a black vinyl material on the original “lounge chair” seat frames. According to the listing, the body and floors are overall solid, always a concern on this model, with only slight oxidation visible to the undercarriage from regular use.
We wonder if it ever did compete in the Dakar rally as the decal on the back indicates?
1966 2CV Dual side window 250 Truckette – Offered Without Reserve
Aside from having radio speakers in the door panels shoddily installed, this Truckette looks very nice and has dual windows on each side of the van body, as well as a vent hatch added to the top. It is equipped with a 602 cc engine and a Solex dual-barrel carburetor.
1966 DS21 Décapotable by Chapron – Offered Without Reserve
The most popular year for the model, it was sold new in the South of France to Ralf Emmerling of Port d’Antibes and remained there until 1990, when it was sold to Paolo Carlini of Sorengo, Switzerland. Mr. Carlini retained the cabriolet until 2008, when it passed to a collector in the Netherlands. The current owner acquired the cabriolet in 2013, and it has enjoyed the good care and maintenance typical of the collection.
During its lifetime this semi-automatic gearbox Citroën has been refinished once, in its original colour of Vert Foret. The seats black leather interior is in remarkably nice condition and is mostly original; the Haartz cloth top and carpets were replaced before the current owner’s acquisition, and the hydraulic systems were converted from LHS (red) to LHM (green fluid.)
1970 Méhari – Offered Without Reserve
This European spec first series model looks to be in exceptionally good condition though painted white at some point to cover the original beige colour impregnated into the ABS body.
1974 SM Automatic – Offered Without Reserve
Showing 36,100 miles, believed to be original, this US spec SM looks very nice. What may keep the price down is that it has an automatic transmission, Bridgestone tires rather than the correct Michelin XWX, an aftermarket Ansa exhaust, and it still has the piston compressor for the AC — a plus for originality but not for engine stress or cabin cooling.
Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
More photos can be seen here.
Given the classic car market being impacted by Covid-19, it will be interesting to see what prices they sell for. It’s expected that parasitic financial speculators will attempt to outbid everyone but the most well-heeled real car enthusiasts. Nevertheless, with 230 vehicles on the block, it just may be that the Citroëns are neglected to the point they could be purchased at good value. We will see…