2015 RM Auctions Amelia Island Classic Car Sale (Preview)

1955 Jaguar D-Type  above
1955 Jaguar D-Type – Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

RM Auctions 2015 Amelia Island classic car sale will be led by a 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica but two racing Jaguars are likely to attract more attention. The 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina is expecting to achieve above $6 million. The mid-estimates for the 1955 Jaguar D-Type and Daytona-winning 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 are $4 million. At Amelia Island 2015, RM Auctions will offer around 100 cars with 17 having upper pre-auction estimates above a million dollar.

RM Auctions Amelia Island Classic Car Sale 2015 (Preview)

RM Auctions is the official auctioneer of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and will have its classic car sale on March 14, 2015, at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida.

The following cars are expecting to be the highlights of the auction with pre-auction estimates exceeding a million dollar:

Year Car Estimate
1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet $6,000,000 – $7,000,000
1955 Jaguar D-Type $3,750,000 – $4,250,000
1988 Jaguar XJR-9 $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti $3,000,000 – $3,500,000
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen $2,900,000 – $3,500,000
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff $2,500,000 – $3,250,000
1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato $2,300,000 – $2,600,000
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV $2,250,000 – $2,750,000
1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra $2,200,000 – $2,500,000
1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale $2,000,000 – $2,500,000
1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron $1,200,000 – $1,400,000
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi $1,100,000 – $1,600,000
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet $1,100,000 – $1,300,000
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster $1,100,000 – $1,300,000
1955 Austin-Healey 100S $975,000 – $1,375,000
1963 Shelby 289 Cobra $950,000 – $1,150,000
1968 Toyota 2000 GT $900,000 – $1,100,000

Top Ferraris at RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015

Ferraris are commonly the most-expensive cars sold at classic car auctions. It is little surprise that the car expecting to achieve the highest result at the RM Auctions 2015 Amelia Island sale is a Ferrari – more surprising is probably that only three of the 17 cars expecting to break the million dollar mark are Ferraris.

1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina

Green 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet
1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet
Darin Schnabel ©2015 RM Auctions

A 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina (estimate $6,000,000 – $7,000,000) is expecting to bring the highest price of any car on sale at the Amelia Island auctions in mid-March 2015. The car on offer was the third of only seven short-wheelbase Superamericas ever built. The color scheme of green (Verde Bottiglia) over red Connoly leather is unique but true to the original.

The 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet is in restored, concourse condition but has never been shown since its restoration. The owner will donate all proceeds to an education foundation.

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider Robin Adams ©2015 RM Auctions

The 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider by Scaglietti (estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000) is one of only 121 Daytona Spiders ever built by Ferrari. (Ferrari built 1,406 Daytonas in total.)

The car is in concourse restored condition and received a Platinum Award at the 2013 Cavallino Classic.

1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale

1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale
1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale – Glenn Zanotti ©2015 RM Auctions

The 1953 Ferrari 212 Europa Coupe by Vignale (estimate $2,000,000 – $2,500,000) is one of only six Ferraris built with this coachwork. Ferrari produced only around 100 of the 212 series during the early 1950. The car was driven twice on the Copperstate 1000 (2012 and 2013) and twice in the Mille Miglia revival (1989 & 1990).

(A 1952 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta will be offered at the RM Auctions 2015 Villa Erba / Concorso Villa d’Este sale on May 23 with an estimate of above €5 million.)

Jaguars at the RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015 Sale

Although the 1960 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet by Pinin Farina is expected to achieve the highest result at the RM Auctions 2015 Amelia Island sale, two racing Jaguars will also attract keen interest:

1955 Jaguar D-Type

The 1955 Jaguar D-Type (estimate $3,750,000 – $4,250,000) is one of 54 cars produced by Jaguar for sale to privateers. It was raced successfully in a variety of races in especially Finland and even in the Soviet Union.

This Jaguar D-Type is s accompanied by a FIVA Passport and FIA papers, and it features its original engine, transmission, chassis frame, monocoque body, and brake calipers. It is believed to be the most original example.

This specific Jaguar was sold by RM Auctions at the Monterey 2013 sale for $3.9 million. The record for a Jaguar D-Type is $5 million – set at the RM Auctions Paris 2014 sale.

1955 Jaguar D-Type  above 1955 Jaguar D-Type with Driver 1955 Jaguar D-Type profile
1955 Jaguar D-Type – Photos: Patrick Ernzen ©2015 RM Auctions
1988 Works Jaguar XJR-9
1988 Works Jaguar XJR-9 – Tim Scott ©2014 RM Auctions

1988 Jaguar XJR-9

The second racing Jaguar on offer is a much more recent 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 (estimate $3,000,000 – $5,000,000). This car won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1990 and finished second overall at seven IMSA events in 1989. It is the sole survivor of the two purpose-built, IMSA specification XJR-9s. See a fuller description at 2015 RM Auctions Amelia Island Sale Press Release.

Mercedes Benz Cars at RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015

Three Mercedes Benz cars are estimated to sell in excess of a million dollar at the RM Auctions 2015 Amelia Island classic car sale:

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A – Patrick Ernzen ©2015 RM Auctions

A 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen (estimate $2,900,000 – $3,500,000) is expecting to achieve the highest result for a German car at the 2015 auction. Only 33 Cabriolet As were built and only 11 are known to have survived. This example was upgraded to 540K specifications during the 1930s. The car is in a very well maintained condition and successfully completed the 1000-mile Colorado Grand in 2009.

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet

1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet -Darin Schnabel ©2015 RM Auctions

Mercedes Benz 300s are common at classic car auctions these days but this 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Cabriolet (estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000), in contrast to the 300 SLs, is actually rare. Only 200 Sc cars were built with only 49 in this specific body style. The car has the same engine as the 300SL but with heavier bodywork and softer suspension for more comfortable long-distance travel.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster Clint Davis ©2015 RM Auctions

A 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000) with a hard top will be the more familiar 300 on offer at the auction. The striking red car was originally black.

Mercedes Benz 300 SLs have achieved prices of just over a million dollar commonly in recent months but few have managed to sell for more than a million and a half.

French Cars at the RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015 Sale

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Two classic pre-war French cars are expecting to achieve more than a million dollar at the RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015 sale:

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff

The very elegant 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Cabriolet by Gangloff (estimate $2,500,000 – $3,250,000) is one of only three surviving Aravis Cabriolets by Gangloff. The Bugatti is in superb condition and was the 2012 Amelia Island Best of Show winner.

1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe – Patrick Ernzen ©2015 RM Auctions

1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi

The 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi (estimate $1,100,000 – $1,600,000) is in a beautiful, restored condition.

However, it is unlikely to threaten the Amelia Island and Delahaye record set in 2014 when $6,600,000 was paid for a 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi.

Shelby Cobras at the RM Auctions 2015 Amelia Island Sale

1967 Shelby 427 'Semi-Competition' Cobra
1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra – Ryan Merrill ©2015 RM Auctions

Shelby Cobras have been achieving prices over a million dollar with seemingly increasing frequency in recent months. Two will be on offer at RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015 sale:

1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra

The 1967 Shelby 427 ‘Semi-Competition’ Cobra (estimate $2,200,000 – $2,500,000) on offer is one of only 29 authentic Semi-Competition Cobras ever built. The car has covered only 18,000 miles and comes with perfect provenance.

1963 Shelby 289 Cobra
1963 Shelby 289 Cobra – Ryan Merrill ©2015 RM Auctions

1963 Shelby 289 Cobra

The 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra (estimate $950,000 – $1,150,000) is a matching numbers car finished in its original colors.

Other Million Dollar Cars at RM Auctions Amelia Island 2015 Sale

Several further cars are expecting to achieve over a million dollar at the RM Auctions Amelia Island sale in mid-March 2015:

1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Spider (Front View)
1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Spider – Darin Schnabel ©2015 RM Auctions

1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato

The 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider by Zagato (estimate $2,300,000 – $2,600,000) was the 13th of 106 fifth-series Grand Sports produced. The car was comprehensively restored in 2009 and exhibited at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. At the Paris auctions in February, four 1930s Alfa Romeos were on offer but only one sold – at Bonhams and at a price negotiated after the hammer come down.)

1971 Lamborghini Miura SV
1971 Lamborghini Miura SV ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions

1971 Lamborghini Miura SV

The 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV (estimate $2,250,000 – $2,750,000) on offer was the first of only 21 built for the USA and thus used as US-homologation prototype.

The Lamborghini still has its original engine stamped as sperimentale  (testing) and is finished in correct colors.

1930 Duesenberg Model J 'Sweep Panel' Dual-Cowl Phaeton
1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ – Darin Schnabel ©2015 RM Auctions

1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron

The 1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron (estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000) is one of only 18 ever built and the only long-wheelbase version. It is a majestic car in very good show condition.

1955 Austin-Healey 100S
1955 Austin-Healey 100S – Clint Davis ©2015 RM Auctions

1955 Austin-Healey 100S

This 1955 Austin-Healey 100S (estimate $975,000 – $1,375,000) was the first chassis of 50 built with special alloy bodies for racing. It originally belonged to Jackie Cooper who drove the car at the 1955 12 Hours of Sebring. It is the only 100S finished in Spruce Green.

1968 Toyota 2000GT

1968 Toyota 2000GT
1968 Toyota 2000GT – Anthony Bellemare ©2015 RM Auctions

A 1968 Toyota 2000GT (estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000) will test the waters again after a Toyota 2000 GT at Scottsdale received limited enthusiasm. This car is one of 84 left-hand drive versions built out of a total of only 351. In 2014, at least three Toyota 2000 GT cars sold in excess of a million dollars (Monaco, Pebble Beach, Monterey).

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