Would you buy a car from these gentlemen?

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Meet Leigh and Leslie Keno: American twin brothers with a soft spot for anything antique. The Kenos worked for Christie’s and Sotheby’s and sold Chippendales and Sheratons. They became television celebrities and were adorned with the National Humanities medal by then-President Bush for ‘educating Americans about material culture and the importance of preservation’. So what’s next? You guessed it: classic cars. More recently they started their own auction house for fine automobiles and a press release states that they were introduced to the classic car world at a very young age by their car collecting father. At sixteen the twins restored a 1963 Jaguar E-type Roadster, which they use to this day and also have an SS100, which they race and rally, plus some Italian prancing horses. True enthusiasts.

But hang on. Last year, Leigh and Leslie also started a Private Equity Fund, dubbed the Historic Motor Car Investment Fund. From Wikipedia: “The investment objective of the Fund is to seek capital appreciation exclusively through the acquisition, conservation and/or restoration and eventual sale of classic and historic cars. The Fund focuses on acquiring the rarest and most desirable Classic Cars produced by renowned marques. The Investment Manager believes that Classic Cars with the strongest upside potential are “blue-chip” Classic Cars with international cache produced during the 1950s and later.” We may know one or two things about classic cars ourselves, but are no investment fund experts. Does this say they are looking for crazy money for classics? We’re not sure, but do know they will hammer down 40 cars on the nineteenth of this month in New York City, some with estimates that are hard to believe for us Europeans. Have a look for yourself by clicking here and let us know what you think.

(Words Jeroen Booij, pictures courtesy Keno Brothers)

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