2018 RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Sale (Auction Preview)

A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB is the most-expensive car offered at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018 sale but several Porsche 911 (964s), Duesenbergs and a vintage Rolls-Royce are the more interesting cars.

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, estimate $2,200,000 - $2,500,000
Ryan Merrill ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, estimate $2,200,000 – $2,500,000, is the lead car for the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018 classic car auction. Several Porsche 911s will be offered in the sale including a special collection of 964 models. The Amelia Island sale will also include two Duesenberg Model J cars, a vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster, and a magnificent Isotta Fraschini 8A S Boattail Cabriolet.

RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018

RM Sotheby’s 20th annual Amelia Island classic car sale will be held on 10 March 2018 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, USA. RM Sotheby’s is the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and will offer around 100 cars.

1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet by Vanvooren
1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet by Vanvooren – Darin Schnabel © 2016 courtesy RM Sotheby’s

In 2017, RM Sotheby’s earned an Amelia Island record $70.9 million but in contrast to most years, a second auction day was held during which 63 cars from the Orin Smith collection were sold without reserve to earn a total of $31 million. The top result in 2017 was $7,700,000 paid for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet with coachwork by Vanvooren.

In 2016, RM Sotheby’s earned $38.6 million with a high sell-through rate of 89%. In 2015, RM Sotheby’s earned $60 million at Amelia Island with a remarkably high 98% sell-through rate.

Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018

RM Sotheby’s will offer eleven cars with estimates exceeding a million dollar at the Amelia Island 2018 classic car sale. As with the Scottsdale 2018 auction, RM Sotheby’s is leaving the three-million-dollar market largely uncontested.

Year Car Estimate
1 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 2,200,000 – 2,500,000
2 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 1,250,000 – 1,500,000
3 1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A S Boattail Cabriolet by Castagba 1,200,000 – 1,400,000
4 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 1,200,000 – 1,400,000
5 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing 1,100,000 – 1,300,000
6 1930 Duesenberg Model J Imperial Cabriolet by Hibbard & Darrin 1,000,0000 – 1,400,000
7 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges 1,000,0000 – 1,250,000
8 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster 1,000,000 – 1,200,000
9 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra 1,000,000 – 1,200,000
10 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau 1,000,000 – 1,200,000
11 1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Clear-Vision’ Swedan by Murphy 750,000 – 1,000,000

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB
Ryan Merrill ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A Ferrari as the most-expensive car on offer at an RM Sotheby’s classic car auction is of course not rare but remarkably, the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis 08603, estimate $2,200,000 – $2,500,000, is the only Ferrari on offer at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018 with a presale estimate above a million dollar.

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, however, is not particularly remarkable. It is one of 58 long-nose, torque-tube, triple-carburetor, steel-bodied examples by Scaglietti. It retains its original engine, chassis and gearbox and is finished in the original colors of red over black. It is a fine 275 GTB but just not particularly special or interesting.

Top Porsches at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018

RM Sotheby’s will offer 19 Porsches for sale at Amelia Island 2018 giving the German sports car marque nearly a fifth of all lots on offer.

Three Porsches are expected to sell for over a million dollar each. All three are from an exclusive Porsche 964 collection that will be sold at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018. All three are bight yellow and originally delivered to Japan.

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8
1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 – Patrick Ernzen © 2017 RM Sotheby’s

The 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8, estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000, is the most-expensive Porsche and the second most-expensive car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018 sale.

This bright yellow Porsche is one of only 55 built and was probably the penultimate car produced. The car is in Japanese speciation and is in the USA on a 2015 “show and display” license. It has covered only 6,825 km from new.

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8
Patrick Ernzen © 2017 RM Sotheby’s

The 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8, estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000, is also one of only 55 built and one of only three delivered to Japan. The car us is in the USA on a DOT / EPA “Box 8 Race Car” exemption and has covered only 765 km since new. It has been driven only around 30 miles per year to keep mechanical components in working condition.

1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau

1993 Porsche Turbo S ‘Leichtbau’
Patrick Ernzen © 2017 RM Sotheby’s

The 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau, estimate $1,000,000 – $1,200,000, is one of only 86 examples built. It was imported into the USA and used only at a private motorsports facility on a DOT / EPA “Show and Display” license. It has covered 36,142 km since new.

Another 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau will be on offer at Gooding Amelia Island 2018 with less than 100 km on the clock and the expectation of a few hundred thousand dollar more to reach the reserve.

1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A S Boattail Cabriolet

1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A S Boattail Cabriolet
©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Several pre-war cars will be on offer at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018 but none as imposing as the 1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A S Boattail Cabriolet by Castagne, estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000.

This car is one of only three surviving Isotta Frascinis with boattail cabriolet bodywork by Castagna. It has a known history from new and was mostly owned by a few long-term, enthusiastic collectors including Sergio Franchi.

Duesenbergs at Gooding Amelia Island 2018

Several Duesenbergs will be available at the Amelia Island 2018 auctions but the two Model J cars at RM Sotheby’s are most likely to sell for over a million dollar.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Imperial Cabriolet

1930 Duesenberg Model J Imperial Cabriolet with bodywork by Hibbard and Darrin, engine J-254, estimate $1,00,000 - $1,400,000
©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Imperial Cabriolet with bodywork by Hibbard and Darrin, engine J-254, estimate $1,00,000 – $1,400,000, originally belonged to William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies. It is often described as the most-traveled Model J as they took the car around the world on their extensive travels.

This 1930 Duesenberg Model J Imperial Cabriolet has a known history including a long ownership period by Joe Kaufmann – the preeminent Duesenberg specialist.

The car has not been shown for over a decade making it eligible for many of the world’s finest concours events.

1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Clear-Vision’ Sedan

1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Clear-Vision’ Sedan by Murphy, engine J-187, estimate $750,000 - $1,000,000
©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Clear-Vision’ Sedan by Murphy, engine J-187, estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000, comes with a less illustrious ownership history but it is one of the most attractive close-bodies Model Js.

This Clear-Vision sedan is one of just five surviving examples – the sixth one was lost during the Second World War in a “scrap collection”! The car is largely original and certified Category One by the ACD Club.

1909 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges

1909 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges “The Silver Fairy” in the style of Barker, estimate $1,000,000 - $1,250,000
©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Rolls-Royce cars sell surprisingly rarely for a million dollar but this 1909 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Roi des Belges “The Silver Fairy” in the style of Barker, estimate $1,000,000 – $1,250,000, is a fine example. It is a very rare short-wheelbase silver ghost and maintained its original 7.4 liter engine and four-speed overdrive transmission.

In contrast to many modern hypercars, this Rolls-Royce was extensively driven having covered over 300,000 miles by 1924! The current owner reportedly enjoys driving it too and had an electric starter fitted for ease of use. It was Best in Class at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Mercedes Benz 300 SLs at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2018

1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing, estimate $1,100,000 - $1,300,000,
Ryan Merrill ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s will offer a pair of Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing and a Roadster from the same owner at Amelia Island 2018. Both cars were restored by Kienle and are very well maintained and frequently used. As a result, these cars are not 100% authentic as air conditioning for example was fitted to the Gullwing making the car easier to enjoy in Florida.

The 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing, estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000, was restored by Kienle in the 1990s and reconditioned again by Kienle a decade ago. It is finished in dark blue over oyster beige. The early history of the car is unknown but it has been driven only 8,000 miles since restoration.

1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster, estimate $1,000,000 - $1,200,000
Ryan Merrill ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster, estimate $1,000,000 – $1,200,000, was one of the first roadsters produced. Like the Gullwing, it was restored by Kienle in the 1990s and reconditioned in 2007.

The Roadster has been driven 13,500 miles since restoration. It is presented in the original color scheme of fire-engine red over saddle.

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra

1964 Shelby 289 Cobra
Erik Fuller ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

While Gooding is offering three million dollar Cobras at Amelia Island 2018, RM Sotheby’s is offering only the one 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra, chassis CSX2149, estimate $1,000,000 – $1,200,000.

This Cobra was the cover car from Tom Cotter’s The Cobra in the Barn: From 1969, this Cobra belonged to Dr Bryan Molloy, the developer of Prozac, who parked it in a barn on his farm where it remained forgotten until a change rediscovery in 1993. Cotter and Jim Maxwell restored the car to its original white of red color combination and famously documented the discovery and restoration. The Cobra has covered only 21,000 miles since new.