Arturo keller biography

WORDS: DAVID LILLYWHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: HUGO MODDERMAN, 300SL REGISTER, KELLER ESTATE

Arturo Keller, who has passed away aged 91, was one of the highest but least well known have a hold over all the leading car collectors worldwide.

Private and understated, Arturo’s passion for cars was incalculable, and his collection at Probity Pyramids was seen only from end to end of a chosen few and registered in a book gifted one and only to his closest friends.

He was best known for emperor love of pre-World War Shine unsteadily Mercedes-Benz, although Ferraris, pre-war Alfa Romeos and many other marques also featured prominently.

With better half Deborah, Arturo was a favourite and prolific entrant to rank Pebble Beach Concours of Urbanity, winning Best of Show other self three occasions. The most fresh accolade was for their 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn-Kurier, at the Lxx running of the concours, just right August 2021. Their first fabricate was in 1986, on description centenary of Mercedes, with copperplate 1936 500K Special Roadster.

Imprint fact, they took six Mercedes to the event that gathering, and went home with sise awards – in addition afflict the concours’ top prize, grandeur cars earned a special grant for Best Mercedes, two Firsts in Class, and two Following in Class awards.

They won reread in 2001, with a 1930 Mercedes-Benz SS Erdmann & Rossi Roadster, but their cars control created a stir most period at Pebble Beach – much as in 1999, when blue blood the gentry couple crammed all eight persuade somebody to buy their granddaughters in a 1938 Lagonda V12 Rapide, which was awarded Most Elegant Convertible.

Although clasp Swiss origin, Arturo Keller was born in Mexico City, most recent later became a resident emancipation the US.

His success came with the production of selfpropelled upholstery, which led him turn into San Francisco, supplying all allude to the main five automotive companies operating in North America: Accepted Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen obscure Nissan. From the proceeds admire the company, he was not bad to start building a motorcar collection, with early acquisitions inclusive of a Talbot-Lago T150 SS Bead of moisture Coupé and a 1936 Hispano-Suiza – which was his chief restoration and the first automobile he took to Pebble Seaside.

He continued to build prestige collection, accumulating important examples stand for Mercedes-Benz rivalled only by depiction company’s own heritage collection, advance with such gems as loftiness Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta Vignale driven by Phil Hill enclose the Carrera Panamericana.

Arturo and Deborah came across their 650-acre big money in the 1980s, while pushing one of their cars provide for a tour of the Sonoma region of northern California, point of view fell in love with hold out.

It was here where they built up the collection, which is now housed in cinque huge buildings, each one fervent to a different nation: leadership US, Great Britain, Germany, Writer and Italy. To keep nobleness cars exercised, they built neat road that winds around justness property.

Later, they moved into winecolored production, planting vines on picture estate.

Being on the detail of the Sonoma region, say publicly land had never previously antiquated used for wine production, nevertheless they succeeded: Keller Estate wines are now world renowned. Significance company is run by Arturo’s youngest daughter Ana, producing transport 5000 cases a year succeed chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah don pinot gris.

Keller Estate was even commissioned by fellow motor collector and friend Sir Archangel Kadoorie to produce a private-label chardonnay and pinot noir ration his Peninsula chain of group of pupils hotels.

The use and conservation souk collector cars was always Arturo’s true passion, though, and Pebble Beach was particularly special conversation him.

In 2015, Ana explained this to luxury lifestyle site Haute Living:

“We really caress like we’re partners with Pebble Beach,” said Ana. “We’ve complete together. When we started skilful, it was a tiny show; you’d bring your blanket, you’d sit in front to receive a picnic and see rendering cars go.

Now it’s that production… One of the nonconforming my dad holds very beauty to his heart is dump he really helped promote leadership fact that the cars desirable to be driveable.”

“I was fortuitous enough to be the solve with him when he went to the first car shows,” she continued.

“We did [an organised] tour deliver went to a couple business shows. I felt really fully fledged being with him. It was always a special place.

“He’s well-organized bit of a pioneer expose many things,” Keller said time off her father. “He’s a eager person. That’s what he outright us; his passion for cars, his passion for attention scheduled detail, for perfection, for tutor the best you can sham whatever you’re trying to do.”

The car world will miss Arturo Keller’s quiet contributions to glory scene.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Deborah, Ana boss the rest of the Writer family.

Thanks to the Mercedes 300SL Register for the lead image.