RM/Sotheby's extended the traditional Amelia Island auction for 2019 to two days due to the ever-increasing number of items on offer. On March 8 and 9, 2019, 141 vehicles went under the hammer at the Ritz-Carlton in Florida, including a motorcycle.
The total value was estimated at around USD 66 million, with each vehicle lot expected to fetch USD 463,000.
57 brands
The offer on March 8/9 consisted of 57 brands. Porsche supplied the largest share with 22 vehicles (plus one tractor), followed by Ferrari (14) and Mercedes-Benz (10).
The remaining manufacturers were mostly involved with small contingents, many with just one car, for example AC, Alfa Romeo, De Tomaso, Glasspar, Horch Iso, Isotto Fraschini, Mazda, RUF and Volkswagen.
Broad age spectrum
With an average age of just over 53 years, RM/Sotheby's was actually within the usual range, although the poles were unusually strongly occupied. Around 40 pre-war vehicles stood in contrast to more than three dozen neoclassic and youngtimer cars.
The high proportion of pre-war cars was surprising, especially as some of the most expensive vehicles were here.
However, the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC with its extremely rare open Corsica body, which was announced as the highlight of the sale, failed to sell. Bidding started at USD 4 million and ended at a considerable USD 5.7 million. This was not enough for the consignor, who had apparently expected a sum closer to the estimate of USD 6 to 7.5 million.
A Napier as a high-flyer
A Napier 15 HP Victoria from 1911 obviously suited the mood in warm Florida better. It could also have been seen as an early version of a beach car. The first bid for the pre-war classic, estimated at USD 40,000 to 60,000, came in at USD 20,000 and then went up in small increments.
Apparently, two bidders were desperate to get their hands on the car, because the successful buyer finally won the bid at USD 140,000, i.e. 2.8 times the median estimate.
Two other pre-war classics also found new owners well above their estimates, namely a Rolls-Royce Phantom II Henley Roadster by Brewster from 1931 (sale price USD 566,000, EUR 503,740, CHF 571,660, lot 229) and a Bentley 3-Litre Sports Two-Seater with bodywork by Chalmer & Hoyer from 1924 (USD 434,000, EUR 386,260, CHF 438,340, lot 260).
The "oldest" car in the auction, a Benz Patent Motorwagen from 1886 (albeit as a recreation), also sold well above expectations, namely for USD 76,160.
Many youngtimers again
Once again, parts of the frequently mentioned "Youngtimer Collection" from Switzerland came under the hammer in Amelia Island. The first three cars - all in red! - were among them. These were a Mazda RX-7 from 1993, a Nissan 300 ZX Twin Turbo from 1996 and a Porsche 928 S4 from 1988.
They all sold very well, in some cases well above the estimated value. USD 50,400 was recorded for the Mazda, USD 53,200 for the Nissan and USD 67,200 for the Porsche.
The black 1994 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Targa came into new hands for even more than expected. USD 173,600 (EUR 154,504 or CHF 175,336) is certainly a good price for this sought-after Japanese youngtimer.
A BMW 850 CSi was sold for USD 184,800, a 2005 Acura NSX for USD 128,800 and a 1990 BMW M3 found a new garage for USD 98,000.
In fact, the young cars fared better, at least compared to the estimated values, with the highest bid on average only 10 percent below the median estimate. Overall, the average was 86 percent, which is still a good value.
Three Bugatti for an estimated ten million
RM/Sotheby's has three Bugatti on offer. In addition to the aforementioned (and unsold) Type 57SC Tourer from 1937, a Bugatti 51 Grand Prix from 1933, which once belonged to Peter Mullin's collection, was also up for auction. According to the auction catalog, chassis 51153 was one of the four works cars used by Varzi, Dreyfus and Williams at the time. It was valued at between USD 1.25 and 1.6 million.
The bidding war started at USD 475,000, with a bidder from Italy winning at USD 685,000. USD 758,500 (CHF 766,085, EUR 675,065) seems like a bargain, especially compared to the Corsica-57SC.
A Bugatti Veyron 16.4 "Sang Noir" from 2010 sold comparatively well for USD 1.5 million, so you could have bought two Type 51 works cars for that. Strange!
The most attractive Aston Martin?
Open-top Aston Martins from the David Brown era are rare and are traded at high prices. One particular rarity is the DB5 Vantage Convertible from 1965, chassis number DB5C/1924/R, one of seven factory Vantage convertibles. USD 1.4 to 1.6 million is expected to be offered for it.
The interesting question here was whether the conversion from right-hand drive to left-hand drive in 2005 on the occasion of the complete restoration had the effect of increasing or decreasing the value. In any case, the bidders did not want to grant the Aston more than USD 1.15 million and the car remained unsold.
The 1978 Aston Martin Vantage, which was also on offer, fared no better, with no one willing to bid more than USD 250,000.
Rarity made in the USA
RM/Sotheby's was able to offer several cars that are rarely seen in Europe. For example, there was a beautiful and beautifully restored 1953 Glasspar G2, which found a new garage for well over the estimate of USD 109,200 (CHF 110,292, EUR 97,188).
Others, such as the Cord L-29 Cabriolet from 1931, fared less well; in any case, the Cord remained unsold with the highest bid of USD 250,000.
Curiosity
Certainly more of a curiosity was the Bedford CA Dormobile from 1961, converted by Martin Martin-Walter. The early GM/Vauxhall-based motorhome was offered for USD 60,000 to 80,000.
This was apparently too expensive for the bidders, USD 39,200 was enough to buy it. Since, as with 55 percent of the cars on offer, no minimum price was required, the car was sold anyway.
Super classics too, of course
Of course, the regular auction classics were not missing at RM/Sotheby's.
For example, there was a Maserati 3500 GTi Spyder Vignale from 1964 (selling price USD 730,000), a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing from 1956 (highest bid USD 1,150,000, not sold), a 300 SL Roadster from 1959 (highest bid USD 975,000, not sold) or a Ferrari 275 GTB from 1965 (selling price USD 2,205).
A Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Pinin Farina Series 2 from 1960 (highest bid USD 1,050,000, not sold) and a 365 GTB/4 Daytona from 1972 (highest bid USD 575,000, not sold) also went under the hammer. Younger Ferraris fared better, with the F40 from 1992 coming into new hands for USD 1,017,000.
Two early Porsche 911s and four Porsche 911 Turbo were highlights in the Porsche range. However, the 911s did not quite live up to expectations, with top bids at just under 74 percent. Non-911s fared rather better.
With a sales rate of 83 percent and a total vehicle turnover of USD 38 million, the Amelia auction certainly did not go badly for RM, but some cars were clearly disappointing. As many as 15 vehicles sold for no more than 60 percent of the median estimate, and interestingly, many of these were cars from the 1930s.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Mazda RX-7 | 1993 | 40'000 | 45'000 | 45'000 | 50'400 | 50'904 | 44'856 | +18.59%
|
V |
| 102 | Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo | 1996 | 30'000 | 40'000 | 47'500 | 53'200 | 53'732 | 47'348 | +52%
|
V |
| 103 | Porsche 928 S4 | 1988 | 55'000 | 65'000 | 60'000 | 67'200 | 67'872 | 59'808 | +12%
|
V |
| 104 | Mercedes-Benz 560 SL | 1986 | 60'000 | 80'000 | 48'000 | 53'760 | 54'297 | 47'846 | -23.2%
|
V |
| 105 | Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 'Wide-Body' | 1989 | 120'000 | 140'000 | 160'000 | 179'200 | 180'992 | 159'488 | +37.85%
|
V |
| 106 | Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Targa | 1994 | 100'000 | 120'000 | 155'000 | 173'600 | 175'336 | 154'504 | +57.82%
|
V |
| 107 | Porsche 928 GTS | 1995 | 80'000 | 100'000 | 80'000 | 89'600 | 90'496 | 79'744 | -0.44%
|
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
