On March 3, 2022, Bonhams auctioned a considerable selection of motorcycles and various automobilia in addition to 84 cars at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elégance in Fernandina Beach/Florida (USA). Overall, a sales quota of 95 percent was achieved, while the 84 automobiles fared somewhat less well, as only 82% of the vehicles, which were valued at a total of USD 21.5 million, were sold.
On average, 82% of the median estimate was bid, and with 57% of lots without a reserve price, some cars were also sold well below expectations.
The average price paid per car was USD 192,782 (EUR 173,504, CHF 177,360).
Large pre-war share
With an average age of over 71 years, the cars on offer were significantly older than at other recent auctions. In fact, with 30 cars built before 1940, there were many pre-war vehicles on offer, namely more than a third.
In contrast, the proportion of young cars was comparatively low, with only one youngtimer, a Porsche 993 from 1996, making it into the selection. At USD 87,360 (EUR 78,624, CHF 80,371), however, it was quite successful.
Bugatti 57C Stelvio Convertible not sold
The most valuable pre-war car came from the French brand Bugatti. The Type 57C Gangloff Stelvio Convertible from 1938 was estimated at USD 1.3 to 1.7 million and came to the auction with an extensive history and completely restored.
However, no one wanted to bid more than USD 1.225 million and the consignor apparently insisted on a higher reserve price, which meant that the car could not be sold.
The honor of the most expensive pre-war car therefore went to a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Victoria, with the new owner paying USD 1.067 million (EUR 959,850, CHF 981,180) for the classic.
Rolls-Royce dominating
Well represented in the pre-war selection, but also in the auction in general, was the Rolls-Royce brand, which led the clearly British-influenced program with 16 vehicles.
All Rolls-Royces were sold, although some of them fell well short of, but also exceeded, expectations.
A 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Town Car, for example, fetched more than twice the estimate, while a 1953 Silver Wraith saloon sold for just over half the expected price, despite the fact that it had a prominent previous owner (Yves Saint-Laurent's partner Pierre Bergé).
A Phantom II as an Open Two Seater from 1935 also did well, while the youngest Rolls, a Camargue Coupé from 1980, sold rather cheaply for USD 35,840 (EUR 32,256, CHF 32,973).
Specials from Bentley, Jaguar and Riley
Three cars attracted particular interest. One was the first series-produced Derby Bentley, a 3 1/2 liter Sports Tourer from 1933 with Vanden Plas bodywork and chassis number B1AE. The car was never fully restored and appeared in company literature and test reports at the time. It has not been shown in public since 1996.
Now it was to find a new enthusiast for USD 400,000 to 600,000. This was only just successful, but the new owner still paid USD 428,500 (EUR 385,650, CHF 394,220).
The story of a Jaguar XK 120 SE from 1954 is at least as dazzling: after all, this is the only XK 120 that Carrozzeria Pinin Farina has ever fitted. And the result was as impressive then as it is today with its elegance and originality. The coupé was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1955.
The car was recently extensively restored and won a Concours Award at Pebble Beach in 2017. Now chassis 675360 was to find a new garage for USD 900,000 to 1.3 million. The highest bid came in at USD 850,000, meaning the Jaguar cost USD 940,000 (EUR 846,000, CHF 864,800).
And then there was the Riley 12/4 Sprite Two Seater Sports from 1937, which, with factory support, took 3rd place in its class at the Monte Carlo Rally. This car was also extensively documented and completely restored.
USD 475,000 to 625,000 were set for "CDU 63", the winning bidder ultimately paid USD 491,750 (EUR 442,375, CHF 452,410) for the rare and attractive Riley.
Many American vehicles
The second-largest national contingent at the Bonhams auction was not Italian, French or German. It was the American manufacturers who were represented with 27 cars. Packard alone was represented with nine cars, followed by Ford (7) and a whole range of other more or less well-known manufacturers, including GMC, Allard, Auburn, Continental and Lincoln.
However, these cars were not really convincing, at least if you compare the highest bids with the estimated values. Packard, for example, received an average bid of 67% and Ford 70%. Nevertheless, seven of the nine Packard cars were sold, while six of the seven Ford cars were sold.
One of the rarest and most valuable cars of American prominence, however, was the 1952 Allard J2X Two Seater Sports, which was looking for a new owner for USD 400,000 to 450,000, but stopped at a maximum bid of USD 350,000.
The Porsche 550 Spyder
The auction's flagship was rightly a Porsche 550 from 1955 with chassis number 550-0036. The car was once fitted by Wendler and used in many competitions on the Nürburgring, the Avus and in Hockenheim. Extensive photo material showed the car in many races. The first owner was Theo Helfrich from Frankfurt. The Spyder was extensively restored at the turn of the millennium and has been in the same ownership for 50 years.
A fierce bidding war developed around the certainly interesting Spyder, which only ended at USD 3.8 million. Although this fell short of the estimated value of USD 4.5 to 5.5 million, the successful telephone bidder ultimately paid USD 4.185 million (equivalent to EUR 3.77 million, CHF 3.85 million) including surcharge/commission
Extensive SL selection
Five Mercedes-Benz of the SL series are vying for the bidders' favor at Bonhams in Amelia Island. The most eye-catching of the quintet was certainly a yellow Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster from 1960, which sold for USD 1.9 to 2.3 million. What was surprising about this car, apart from the color, which was actually a special request at the time, was the wrong engine under the hood. However, this was also installed at the time after an engine failure and it was an aluminum engine, which certainly upgraded the car at the time. Then there's the previous royal ownership and the color.
Apparently this was not convincing enough to elicit more than USD 1.8 million from the bidders and so the roadster remained unsold.
The remaining four SLs were two Pagodas and two 107s, which on average sold slightly below expectations.
A steady stream of super classics
Of course, there was no shortage of super classics from the fifties and sixties at Bonhams. There was, for example, a 1958 Aston Martin DB4 awaiting restoration, which found its way into a new garage for USD 173,600 (EUR 165,240, CHF 159,712).
An early Chevrolet Corvette C1 from 1956 found a new owner via the Estimate for USD 80,640 (EUR 72,576, CHF 74,189).
A whole series of Jaguar XK and E-Types were offered, all of which were sold, albeit sometimes at disappointingly low prices.
The new owner paid USD 302,000 (EUR 271,800, CHF 277,840) for a Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster from 1957, while an early 911 2.0 Targa from 1967 went for USD 123,200 (EUR 110,880, CHF 113,344).
A Maserati Mexico 4.2-liter coupé from 1967 was available for USD 52,080, while a Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 from 1968 cost USD 318,500 and an Espada Series III from 1974 USD 42,560.
An enthusiast paid USD 184,800 for the 1964 Facel Vega Facel II, while a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa cost USD 95,200 (EUR 85,680, CHF 87,582), which was even more than expected. A Ferrari 365 GTC/ç from 1972, on the other hand, did not find a new owner; USD 260,000 was not enough for a successful bid.
Bonhams could certainly be satisfied with a sales rate of 88%, especially as the bidding levels between the sold and unsold lots differed only marginally at 81.5% and 79.1% of the average estimate. However, because some expensive cars did not find a new owner, the total turnover for the cars settled at USD 17.6 million instead of the hoped-for USD 21.5 million.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | USD Est from | USD Est to | USD HP | USD SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Ford Model A Tudor Sedan | 1931 | 10'000 | 20'000 | 6000 | 6720 | 6182 | 6048 | -55.2%
|
V |
| 202 | Ford Super Deluxe Tudor Sedan | 1942 | 10'000 | 20'000 | 7500 | 8400 | 7728 | 7560 | -44%
|
V |
| 203 | Ford Model 40 V8 Coupe | 1933 | 20'000 | 40'000 | 29'000 | 32'480 | 29'881 | 29'232 | +8.27%
|
V |
| 204 | Packard Model 633 Standard Eight Sedan | 1929 | 20'000 | 40'000 | 9000 | 10'080 | 9273 | 9072 | -66.4%
|
V |
| 205 | Packard Model 1101 Eight Club Sedan | 1934 | 70'000 | 90'000 | 32'000 | 35'840 | 32'972 | 32'256 | -55.2%
|
V |
| 206 | Ford Model A Coupe | 1931 | 10'000 | 20'000 | 10'000 | 11'200 | 10'304 | 10'080 | -25.33%
|
V |
| 207 | GMC T14 Up Pick Truck (Jg. Ca.) | 1937 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 15'000 | 16'800 | 15'456 | 15'120 | -32.8%
|
V |
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All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
