On March 9, 2018, Gooding & Co auctioned 86 cars and an engine-transmission unit at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation. A total of over USD 50 million in bids was expected, an average of more than USD 616,000 per vehicle. It didn't turn out to be that much, although 94 percent of the lots were sold. On average, however, interested parties bid "only" USD 499,580 and an average of USD 435,210 (EUR 352,520, CHF 413,450) was actually paid for the 82 lots sold. On average, 82 percent of the estimated value was bid, but there were large outliers at the top and bottom.
More youngtimers than pre-war vehicles
Gooding was able to offer just two cars, a Bugatti and a Peugeot, from the years before the Second World War, but 21 youngtimers and neoclassics built after 1989. No wonder the average age was around 46 years.
The pre-war cars performed very differently. While the Peugeot V2Y2 from 1910 sold for well over the estimate at USD 220,000 (EUR 178,200, CHF 209,000), the Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio from 1936 was a veritable bargain at USD 198,000 (EUR 160,380, CHF 188,100), at least compared to the estimate of USD 450,000 to 600,000. It was not even offered without a reserve price, like 54 other lots.
The young ones did not do so badly, reaching an average of 87 percent of the estimate as the highest bid. A Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Targa from 1993 sold for USD 132,000 (EUR 106,920, CHF 125,400), almost 50 percent above the estimate. Only two cars disappointed with the highest bid: a 1989 BMW 635 CSi and a 2002 Ferrari 575M, which came in at 59 and 60 percent of expectations respectively, while all other youngtimers and neoclassics achieved at least 72 percent.
A Porsche 993 GT2 from 1996 sold for USD 1.485 million (EUR 1.203 million, CHF 1.411 million), while a Ferrari Enzo landed at USD 2.365 million (EUR 1.916 million, CHF 2.247 million).
26 car manufacturers represented
Just 26 car brands were represented in the 87 lots, almost half of which came from Porsche. There were also nine Ferrari and seven Mercedes-Benz. The remaining manufacturers were represented with a maximum of three cars, but many such as Alpine, Autobianchi, Fiat, Nash and Triumph were only represented with one.
The Nash as a high-flyer
The Nash Airflyte 600 Sedan not only looked aerodynamic and almost airworthy, it also proved to be a veritable high-flyer as lot 6 of the Gooding auction. Instead of the estimated USD 35,000 to 45,000, the highest bidder went as high as USD 80,000, which meant a sale price (including buyer's premium) of USD 88,000 (EUR 71,280, CHF 83,600). This naturally delighted all limousine enthusiasts.
In general, the American cars performed better than the Europeans, at least in comparison to the estimates, achieving an average of 94 percent of the estimate, while the Europeans had to be content with 81 percent. In addition, all the American cars were sold, compared to only 93 percent for the Europeans.
The Ferrari 275 GTB from the "barn"
It was not a barn that a Ferrari 275 GTB was driven into together with a Shelby Cobra in 1991. It was a new garage at the time. But the special thing is that the cars never came out of their new storage facility again until 2017.
For 26 years, the Ferrari 275 GTB with chassis number 08125 is said to have waited there for its next appearance, untouched but well stored. In 2017, the owner decided to sell the car, which he had liked so much at the time because of its beauty. After a minor mechanical intervention, the car was running again and was presented at the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic in January 2018, still covered in the dust that had found its way onto the car over a quarter of a century.
Now, the aluminum-bodied, long-nosed car sold for USD 2.53 million (EUR 2.049 million, CHF 2.404 million), slightly below expectations but still a proud price.
And a Shelby Cobra 427 to boot
In 1980, the same collector bought the Cobra with chassis number CSX3278 with just 13,000 miles on the clock. It was one of 260 road-going versions of the super-fast sports car built. After another 6,000 miles, the owner parked the 1967 Cobra next to his 275 GTB in 1991 and left it there for the next 26 years. Unrestored but in its original condition, it has now been passed into new hands for USD 1.045 million (EUR 846,450, CHF 992,750).
A second Shelby Cobra 427 from 1966 sold even better. CSX 3283 achieved the proud selling price of USD 1.458 million (EUR 1.18 million, CHF 1.385 million), including surcharge.
An early Berlinette
Although Alpine A110s are frequently offered at auction, such an early version from 1963, built shortly after its launch in Paris in 1962, rarely comes under the hammer. Although chassis A1081554 has a title from 1965, it really does appear to be an earlier Alpine with a Gordini 1.1-liter engine that took part in prestigious races in the USA at the time, namely the 12 Hours of Sebring, Bahamas Speed Week, Lime Rock Park and Marlboro.
Now the yellow Berlinette, which was restored in the 1980s, was to be auctioned for USD 120,000 to 140,000, albeit without a reserve price. Apparently the Americans took less of a liking to the rare plastic car than expected, and at USD 82,500 (EUR 66,825, CHF 78,375) the buyer certainly got his hands on the car at a reasonable price.
The Alpine shared its fate with several other cars that sold well below expectations, such as a Mercedes-Benz 380 SL from 1982 (selling price USD 26,400), a Fiat-Abarth 1000 TC Berlina from 1962 (USD 55,000) or a Porsche 930 from 1977 (USD 104,500).
Porsche supremacy
There was no shortage of special Porsches at Gooding. They made up almost half of the offerings. These included rare Porsche 356s, such as a 356 B 1600 GS/GT Carrera Coupé from 1960, which was estimated at USD 1.2 to 1.5 million, but could not be sold after a top bid of USD 900,000.
Two 911s also had to leave the lot without a new owner, a 2.7 RS Touring from 1973 (highest bid USD 600,000) and the legendary Carrera RSR 2.1 Turbo from 1974 (highest bid USD 5.4 million, estimate USD 6 to 8 million).
Given its history, it is understandable that the RSR is a valuable car. After all, chassis 911 460 9102 (R13) achieved second place overall at Le Mans in 1974 with Herbert Müller and Gijs van Lennep at the wheel. There was also a second place to celebrate at Watkins Glen, further placings were recorded at Le Castellet and Brands Hatch, while the car retired at Daytona in February 1977, now driven by Ognais, Follmer and Field.
The Porsche 962C from 1990 with chassis number 962-160, once entered by the Brun Motorsport team, could also look back on a Le Mans history. However, Walter Brun, Larrauri and Pareja retired in 1990, as did Huysman, Santal and Stirling the following year. This example was therefore not really successful, which was also reflected in the estimated value of USD 1.5 to 2 million, which could not quite be achieved with a sales price of USD 1.595 million (ERU 1.292 million, CHF 1.515 million).
The remaining Porsches all found new owners, albeit not always in line with expectations.
The last Ford GT40
For the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford built a new Ford GT40 that had little in common with its predecessor. 12 Appendix J chassis (up to 7 liters displacement) were produced, one of which, as expected, won the endurance classic in the Sarthe with Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt at the wheel.
The car on offer was the last GT40 produced and, according to Gooding, was taken to Le Mans as a replacement car at the time.
USD 2 to 2.5 million was estimated by the Gooding experts, but USD 1.925 million (EUR 1.56 million, CHF 1.829 million) was ultimately paid.
Rare Ferrari sports cars from the early days
Two Ferrari sports cars from the 1950s were among the most expensive cars at the auction. There was an early 212 Europa with Ghia Cabriolet bodywork from 1952. Chassis 0233 EU was shown in Geneva and Turin in 1952 and reappeared a few years ago as a barn find.
The car was then completely restored over a period of six years. An estimate of USD 1.8 to 2.2 million was made for the Ferrari, which is certainly not an everyday car. USD 1.6 million (EUR 1.296 million, CHF 1.52 million) was then paid.
This made the 212 even more successful than the Ferrari 410 Superamerica of the first series from 1956, which also had an unusual history. In its entire life, the car only had three owners and was driven just 12,000 km. Chassis 0491 SA was now to find a new garage for USD 5 to 6 million, but the highest bid of USD 3.9 million was not enough for the consignor.
Gooding was unable to sell the two most expensive cars, which meant that it was already around USD 10 million short of the expected result, but overall the auction went reasonably well, even though some of the prices were well below the estimates, which was of course also a result of the many "no reserve" bids. Some of the consignors were probably quite annoyed afterwards and some of the buyers were quite pleased.
Vehicles offered and sold
The following table lists all vehicles offered with estimated prices (Est) and highest bids (HG) in USD as well as sales prices (VP) in USD, EUR and CHF. The conversion was carried out at the daily exchange rate of 1 USD = 0.81 EUR, or 1 USD = 0.95 CHF. The "% Est" column compares the highest bids with the mean estimated value. The highest bids were recalculated for the lots sold. All data without guarantee.
The list can be sorted as desired by clicking on the column headings.
| Lot | Car | Year | USD Est from | USD Est to | USD HP | USD SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Ferrari Tipo 128F Engine and Tipo 508E Gearbox | 1962 | 100'000 | 125'000 | 130'000 | 143'000 | 135'850 | 115'830 | +27.11%
|
V |
| 002 | Triumph TR3 | 1957 | 55'000 | 70'000 | 52'000 | 57'200 | 54'340 | 46'332 | -8.48%
|
V |
| 003 | Porsche 356 1500 Super Coupe | 1953 | 70'000 | 90'000 | 80'000 | 88'000 | 83'600 | 71'280 | +10%
|
V |
| 004 | Datsun 1600 Roadster | 1967 | 45'000 | 55'000 | 37'000 | 40'700 | 38'665 | 32'967 | -18.6%
|
V |
| 005 | Mercedes-Benz 280 SL | 1971 | 90'000 | 110'000 | 60'000 | 66'000 | 62'700 | 53'460 | -34%
|
V |
| 006 | Nash Airflyte 600 Sedan | 1949 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 80'000 | 88'000 | 83'600 | 71'280 | +120%
|
V |
| 007 | Porsche 944 | 1986 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 38'000 | 41'800 | 39'710 | 33'858 | +4.5%
|
V |
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
