Star cars of the prestigious Amelia Island auctions
- Gareth Herincx
- @garethherincx
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The annual Amelia Island series of classic car auctions held in Florida, has grown into one of the most prestigious sales of the year.
Some of the most expensive cars in the world go under the hammer of auction giants RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company and Bonhams, and usually several cars will achieve more than a million dollars each.
In 2016 the Amelia Island auction record was set when a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider was sold by Gooding for $17,160,000 (£13,669,656).
The 2017 event is shaping up to be just as successful with some important cars ranging in years from 1928 – 2015 from marques including Jaguar, Bentley, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche and Rolls-Royce…
1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Sports "The Bobtail" by Vanden Plas - guide price up to $7,500,000 (£5,974,500)
Offered for sale by RM Sotheby’s, this famed 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Sports “Bobtail” competed twice in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1928, 1929), and was placed third overall in the latter race. It also finished second overall at the 1929 Brooklands Double Twelve at an average speed 81.39mph. It was driven by three famous “Bentley Boys” – Sammy Davis, Frank Clement and Dudley Benjafield.
1936 Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III “Tipo Bocca” by Pinin Farina - guide price up to $2,600,000 (£2,071,160)
Pinin Farina’s 1936 Milano Motor Show car and displayed at the inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza, San Remo, in May 1937, this is believed to be the first of three or fewer PF cabriolets built on the short-wheelbase Corto chassis. With its aerodynamic profile, the Astura was arguably the pinnacle of pre-war Lancias. It boasted a 3.0-litre V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission, and until recently, this example was exhibited at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles as part of its “Rolling Sculpture” exhibit of advanced streamlined design. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1938 Talbot-Lago T150C 'Lago Spéciale' Cabriolet - guide price up to $1,500,000 (£1,194,900)
This stunning French Art Deco cabriolet is a masterpiece of design from the interwar years was just one of less than 51 produced. Mechanically identical to the fabled flagship Super Sports model, the Spéciale was intended to accommodate more sumptuous bodywork. With an added weight difference of only 130kg, the result was an opulent motorcar with superior acceleration and impressive handling. To be auctioned by Bonhams.
1949 Aston Martin DB Mk II - guide price up to $2,250,000 (£1,792,350)
An important piece of Aston Martin history, this car was specially built for the personal use of company owner David Brown and it was the first Aston Martin model to be fitted with the new six-cylinder LB6 engine. It was later owned by factory racing driver Lance Macklin, who campaigned it at the 1950 Coppa Inter-Europa and the 1950 Targa Florio. Beautifully restored by Aston Martin Works, it participated in the 2010 Mille Miglia Storica, the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the 2016 Windsor Castle Concours d’Elegance. To be auctioned by Gooding & Company.
1950 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta - guide price up to $10,000,000 (£7,966,000)
The 27th of 32 166 MM examples built and the 23rd of 25 Touring Barchettas, this example was owned and raced by future Scuderia Ferrari driver Eugenio Castellotti. It competed in the Mille Miglia in 1951 and 1953 and more recently has enjoyed a winning concours career. Extraordinarily original, it will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1954 Arnolt-Bristol Roadster Prototype - guide price up to $500,000 (£398,300)
This Arnolt-Bristol Roadster Prototype, with coachwork by Bertone, combines a British chassis with a German-developed engine and an Italian body. A specially bodied Bristol for the US market, this car was sent to Bertone in Turin for coachbuilding, arrived back in England for testing, then shipped to New York and was received on February 1, 1954. To be auctioned by Bonhams.
1955 Ferrari 250 GT Europa - guide price up to $2,600,000 (£2,071,160)
The 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Europa with coachwork by Pinin Farina is factory equipped with competition features and alloy bodywork (one of two such cars constructed using lightweight aluminium). Built for the 1955 Mille Miglia, and although not completed in time for the race, chassis 0389 GT retains its matching-numbers engine block, bodywork and chassis. To be auctioned by Bonhams.
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America - guide price up to $1,800,000 (£1,433,880)
Arguably the greatest sports car ever created by Italy’s Lancia marque, the Aurelia B24S Spider America has Pinin Farina coachwork and is one of 181 left-hand-drive cars built. It’s been comprehensively restored and is refinished in factory-correct colours of light grey paint over red leather. It’s accompanied by a correct tool kit, owner’s manual and copies of manufacturer brochures. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1957 Jaguar XKSS - guide price up to $18,000,000 (£14,338,800)
One of only 16 examples, this XKSS could become one of the most expensive British cars ever sold when it goes under the hammer at Gooding & Company. To claim the top spot it will need to surpass the $21,780,000 (£17,500,000) paid in 2016 for the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar D-Type that won Le Mans in 1956. Considered by many to be the ultimate road-going Jaguar, the XKSS is based on the D-Type. It’s been more than 10 years since one of the ‘sweet 16’ went up for sale.
1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe “Honeymoon Express” by Freestone & Webb - guide price up to $1,800,000 (£1,433,880)
The most extravagant, streamlined “Jet Age” design on a Rolls-Royce chassis, it was dubbed “The Honeymoon Express” because it was designed for two and a weeks’ luggage! One of only two “Honeymoon Express” cars, it’s arguably one of the most famous, sought-after, and romantic Silver Clouds of all. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti - guide price up to $10,000,000 (£7,966,000)
The 83rd of 165 SWB examples built, this stunner benefits from a comprehensive restoration by Motion Products completed in 2015. It was a Best-of-Show winner at the 2015 Concorso Italiano and has won other awards. It is believed to be one of 10 or 11 “semi-competition” examples that were factory-fitted with desirable competition features, including a ribbed competition gearbox, competition Weber carburettors, an Abarth exhaust system, upgraded camshafts and Milletto shock absorbers. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I "External Bonnet Latch" Roadster - guide price up to $425,000 (£340,000)
To be auctioned by Bonhams, this is one of the earliest known examples of a Jaguar E-Type with the rare external bonnet-latch. Ordered new at the 1961 Paris Salon, this Opalescent Bronze Roadster was dispatched from the factory on June 9, 1961 and exported to Canada. It was the 53rd E-Type Roadster constructed and the 27th left-hand drive example, making it one of the earliest E-Types exported to North America.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 - guide price up to $1,300,000 (£1,035,580)
With its James Bond connection, the DB5 is the stuff of legend. This Vantage is one of only 10 original left-hand drive Vantage examples with factory air-conditioning. It benefits from a ground-up restoration in 2002 by a marque specialist. To be auctioned by Gooding & Company.
1968 Ferrari Dino 206 GT - guide price up to $900,000 (£716,940)
Rock legend Eric Clapton became the second owner of this iconic Dino in May 1970. Clapton was in the early stages of his love affair with Ferraris, which he described in his 2007 autobiography. “One day in the late 1960s, he [George Harrison] arrived at my house in a dark blue Ferrari 365 GTC,” said Clapton. “I’d never seen one in the flesh before, and my heart melted.” To be auctioned by Gooding & Company.
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta Competizione Conversion - guide price up to $1,500,000 (£1,194,900)
As the fastest production car the world had ever seen, there was little doubt that the Daytona would succeed on the track, but that fell on deaf ears at Maranello. However, that didn’t stop privateers campaigning the car. This one was intended to compete at the 1972 12 Hours of Sebring, but wasn’t ready in time. It went on to compete in endurance racing and it’s just been the subject of a five-year restoration. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal coupé - guide price up to $70,000 (£55,762)
Some serious exotica here in the shape of the Montreal coupé, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970. Unlike the four-cylinder prototype, the Montreal had a 3.0-litre V8 engine fitted, a version of which was also used by McLaren in Formula One. Thanks to its aerodynamic fastback bodywork, the Montreal reached some 220km/h (about 137mph) and 3,925 cars has been produced before production ceased in 1977. This Montreal was restored in 2015 and it’s to be auctioned by Bonhams.
1977 Porsche 934/5 - guide price up to $1,600,000 (£1,274,560)
Winner of the 1981 Australian National Championship, this car features many special features, making it a true “one-off”. Unlike the other nine 934/5 cars built, 0956 was fitted with Group 4 bodywork plus the more-powerful 600hp engine with mechanical fuel injection, a special 930/51 transmission, and 935-type oil pump and cooler. Additionally, 0956 was the last Group 4-bodied Porsche 934 built. To be auctioned by Gooding & Company.
1977 Rolls-Royce Camargue - guide price up to $46,000 (£37,000)
Surely one of the biggest bargains of the Bonhams auction, this Camargue (one of only 530 built) once belonged to Hollywood star Sammy Davis Jr. With coachwork by Mulliner Park Ward, it has just 59,000 miles on the clock and back in the day was Rolls-Royce’s flagship car.
1995 Ferrari F50 - guide price up to $2,400,000 (£1,911,840)
Originally owned by champion heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson, this F50 has just 5,694 miles on the clock. Capable of rocketing to 60mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds, it has a top speed of 202mph. The 73rd of the 349 F50s produced, and one of only 50 US-spec examples made, it was owned by Tyson for several years. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion - estimate available upon request
The Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion is the only model ever offered from the factory as a race car first and then homologated for road use. The 911 GT1 race cars delivered remarkable results in motorsport, including a class and overall win at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only 20 911 GT1 Strassenversions (street versions) were built for road use, and all were pre-sold to Porsche’s top VIP clients, making them virtually unattainable. This one is finished in its original Artic Silver Metallic livery and has less than 5,000 miles on the clock. To be auctioned by Gooding & Company.
1989 Mazda 767B - guide price up to $2,400,000 (£1,911,840)
Mazda and rotary enthusiasts consider the 767B to be the most iconic race car to ever come out of Japan. The example offered here, chassis 003, is one of three cars built by Mazdaspeed for the 1989 season. Driven by Yojiro Terada, Marc Duez and Volker Weidler, 003 earned a respectable third in the GTP class and 12th overall at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. It went on to race in Japan and was seen at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. To be auctioned by Gooding & Company.
2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - guide price up to $1,800,000 (£1,433,880)
The Bugatti Veyron is a modern icon. This car, built to US specifications, it is the ninth of only 11 production Grand Sports intended for the North American market. Finished in Sporting black and red livery over a sumptuous tan leather interior, Chassis 051 found its way to Europe via Nigeria and it only has 538 miles on the clock. To be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s.
2015 McLaren P1 - guide price up to $2,300,000 (£1,832,180)
The only P1 delivered in a stunning cobalt metallic, this car has numerous bespoke specifications including exceptionally rare Daytona-style seats (only one other P1 has this seat specification) and distinctive striping and badging throughout its exterior. The seller is an alumni Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana and proceeds from this sale will benefit a professorship at the college. Remarkably, this car is being sold without a reserve!