A 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer (estimate $ 11 – 13 million) is Bonhams leading entry for the 2016 Amelia Island, Florida classic car auction. Other top cars include a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (estimate: “Refer to Department”) and a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (estimate $ 2.7 – 3.2 million). The 1910 Thomas Flyer Model K 6-70 “Flyabout” (estimate $ 0.9 – 1.2 million) is likely to achieve the highest result of the pre-First World War era cars while a collection of around 30 pedal cars confirms that rich kids do get the best toys.
See also: 2016 Bonhams Amelia Island Sale Results
Bonhams Amelia Island 2016 Auction
The British auction house Bonhams will stage its second Amelia Island auction on 10 March 2016 at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club in Florida, USA.
In addition to the interesting variety of cars on offer, Bonhams will sell around 30 pedal cars to confirm that rich kids get the best toys. This is particularly illustrated by a child’s Ferrari – with a 200 cc Honda engine – that Enzo Ferrari gifted to a Gil Rossellini (est. $ 20,000 – $30,000).
Bonhams’ top car at Amelia Island 2016 is a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer (estimate $ 11 – 13 million), which may double the current Amelia Island auction record of $6,600,000 paid for the fabulously elegant 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster at the RM Amelia Island 2014 auction. However, such new record is likely to stay only for a day if the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, chassis 2871, (estimate $15,000,000 – $17,000,000), sells the following day at the Gooding Amelia Island 2016 auction.
Million-Dollar Cars at Bonhams Amelia Island 2016
The following cars are expected to sell for above or near a million dollar at the 2016 Bonhams Amelia Island classic car auction:
| Year | Car | Estimate ($) |
| 1937 | Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A | Refer to department |
| 1933 | Maserati 8C 3000 Biposto | Refer to department |
| 2005 | Porsche Carrera GT | Refer to department |
| 1967 | Ferrari 275 GTB/4 | 2.7 – 3.2 million |
| 1937 | Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer | 11 – 13 million |
| 1956 | Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster | 0.95 – 1.15 million |
| 1955 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe | 0.9 – 1.2 million |
| 1910 | Thomas Flyer Model K 6-70 “Flyabout” | 0.9 – 1.2 million |
| 1960 | Maserati 3500 GT Spyder | 0.8 – 1 million |
Supercharged Cars from the 1930s at Bonhams Amelia Island 2016
Three supercharged cars from the 1930s are the leading cars at the 2016 Bonhams Amelia Island classic car auction:
1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer (estimate $ 11 – 13 million)
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer, chassis 57541, (estimate $ 11 – 13 million) will be the clear highlight of the Bonhams 2016 Amelia Island classic car auction.
The Bugatti Type 57 SC, chassis 57541, is one of only two Type 57s with coachwork by Vanden Plas and the only one with a four-seater convertible body. Only 43 of the lower body Type 57 S cars were ever made and these were amongst the fastest cars on the road in the 1930s and 1940s. Previous owners of the car on offer raced the car in North America: in New York before the Second World War and especially in Trinidad in the 1950s.
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer has been restored to correct factory SC specification.
No Type 57 S with a convertible body has been offered in a public sale for 17 years while this particular car last changed owners in 1995. (RM Sotheby’s will offer a standard 1936 Bugatti Type 57 two days later.)
1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A
Another magnificent pre-War supercharger car on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2016 sale is the 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A (estimate: “Refer to department”).
The car was originally delivered new to the UK and is one of only 32 with Cabriolet A bodywork ever produced. It was originally white but the color was changed to black during the 1980s when the interior was also refurbished. (RM Sotheby’s will offer a 540 K Spezial Cabriolet A two days later.)
1933 Maserati 8C 3000 Biposto
The 1933 Maserati 8C 3000 Biposto (estimate: “Refer to Department”) is basically a road-legal supercharged Grand Prix racing car with an engine and some components from the early 1930s. In the case of this car, it is all about engine 3004: a car, using many period spares, was constructed around the engine but specialists still argue whether a car 3004 ever existed and in which form.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (estimate $ 2.7 – 3.2 million) is the only Ferrari on offer at the 2016 Bonhams Amelia Island sale expected to sell for over a million dollar. This Ferrari is sold from the estate of Wade Carter – he acquired the car in 1971 and with his ownership extending to near 45 years is the third longest known tenure of ownership of any 275 GTB/4.
This car was the 203rd of 331 examples of the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 designed by Pininfarina built by Scaglietti. On first import into the USA, it was sold for $15,630 in Las Vegas in 1968.
1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe
The 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe (estimate $ 0.9 – 1.2 million) comes with a fairly low estimate, as it is a less than perfect car. Run-of-the-mill 300 SLs have struggled at recent auctions to achieve the too high reserves, while cars with good condition and provenance continued to sell well.
The car on offer is not in original specification or with the original engine. It is in good running condition leaving the new owner the choice of enjoying it as is or spend sufficient money on a full restoration to bring it up to concourse standard.
(RM Sotheby’s expects a stronger result from the Gullwing it has on offer two days later – $1.3 to 1.5 million).
1956 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster
The Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster is the less sexy sibling of the 300 SL and generally sells for slightly less, and with more difficulty, despite originally costing more and being produced in far lower numbers. The 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 Sc Roadster (estimate $ 0.95 – 1.15 million) was the 16th of only 53 Sc Roadsters produced. It is a matching numbers example although the color was changed from white to black.
1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder
With only 242 Vignale bodied 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spyders (estimate $ 0.8 – 1 million) produced, these cars are as rare as contemporary Ferraris but generally fetch far lower prices. Few have reached a million dollar at recent auctions but this car is helped by a recent restoration and well-maintained condition.
1910 Thomas Flyer Model K 6-70 “Flyabout”
Several pre-First World War vehicles will be on offer at Bonhams but the 1910 Thomas Flyer Model K 6-70 “Flyabout” (estimate $ 0.9 – 1.2 million) comes with the highest pre-auction estimate. Remarkably, the car had only five owners, of which the fire department of Chattanooga was the first.
2005 Porsche Carrera GT
The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT is listed by Bonhams without a guide price for the Amelia Island 2016 auction. Since a similar Porsche sold for just over a million dollar at Mecum’s Monterey 2015 auction, at least five were offered at auction thus far in 2016 with the highest result $980,000 achieved at Gooding Scottsdale 2016 in a post-hammer deal. RM Sotheby’s will also offer one at Amelia Island 2016 but the 2000 Porsche Carrera GT Prototype from the Jerry Seinfeld Collection at Gooding is likely to be the only one selling for more than a million dollar at Amelia Island 2016.