The top result at the Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction series was $2.2 million for a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB. Prices were mostly lower.
The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB was the only multimillion dollar result at the Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction series. 17 cars sold for more than a million dollar but prices were mostly lower than at recent auctions. RM Sotheby’s sold nine cars for over a million dollar, Gooding six and Bonhams two. American 1930s classics were sold for over a million dollar at all three auctioneers while Bonhams also had very strong results with 24 American antique cars. Prices for modern hypercars were mostly weaker while the market for cars costing less than half a million dollar remained strong.
Top Auction Houses at Amelia Island 2019
There were no real surprises in the earnings of the top three auctioneers at the Amelia Island 2019 classic car auctions. Only three cars were offered with pre-sale estimates exceeding $3 million and they all failed to sell. All three top catalogue auction houses maintained a sell-through rate in the mid-80%.
RM Sotheby’s added a second auction day and brought the largest number of high-end cars to the market in 2019 including 22 cars with pre-sale highest estimates exceeding a million dollar. In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned $38.1 million (compared to $27 million in 2018) with nine cars sold for over a million dollar. RM Sotheby’s had the top two results and the only result exceeding $2 million.
Gooding earned $22 million at Amelia Island in 2019 compared to $35.5 million in 2018. Gooding brought far fewer top-end cars in 2019 selling six for more than a million dollar.
Bonhams increased earnings at Amelia Island in 2019 to $16 million from $13.4 million in 2018. Bonhams sold only two cars for more than a million dollar but had some stunning results with the two dozen antique and vintage cars from the Don Boulton Collection.
Top Results at the Amelia Island 2019 Car Auctions
The top results at the various Amelia Island 2019 classic car auctions were:
| – | Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | Auction House |
| 1 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTB | 2,205,000 | 2,200,000 – 2,400,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 2 | 1966 | Shelby 427 Cobra | 1,792,500 | 1,750,000 – 2,100,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 3 | 1930 | Packard 734 Speedster Runabout | 1,765,000 | 1,700,000 – 2,000,000 | Gooding |
| 4 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron | 1,650,000 | 1,600,000 – 2,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 5 | 2010 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 ‘Sang Noir’ | 1,500,000 | 1,350,000 – 1,600,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 6 | 2015 | Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach | 1,490,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,000,000 | Gooding |
| 7 | 2015 | McLaren P1 | 1,490,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,600,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 8 | 1926 | Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet Le Dandy by Chapron | 1,352,500 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 9 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTS | 1,325,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | Gooding |
| 10 | 1934 | Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich | 1,325,000 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 11 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT Lusso | 1,226,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | Gooding |
| 12 | 1930 | Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood | 1,187,500 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 | Bonhams |
| 13 | 2015 | Porsche 918 Spyder | 1,187,500 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 14 | 1993 | Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8 | 1,132,500 | 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 | Gooding |
| 15 | 1968 | Brabham-Cosworth BT26/BT26A Formula 1 | 1,105,000 | 1,100,000 – 1,400,000 | Bonhams |
| 16 | 1987 | Porsche 962C Kremer | 1,022,500 | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 | Gooding |
| 17 | 1992 | Ferrari F40 | 1,017,000 | 900,000 – 1,100,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
Million-Dollar Cars at Amelia Island 2019 Sales
In 2019, only 17 cars sold for more than a million dollar at the various Amelia Island classic car auctions compared to 22 in 2018. Only one car sold for more than $2 million in 2019 compared to three in 2018.
No high-end Ferraris were on offer at Amelia Island 2019 but it was sweet revenge for the marque when the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB was the top result at the auctions and the only multimillion dollar car of the week. However, neither the car nor the price were particularly noteworthy. Four Ferraris sold for over a million dollar with the $1,017,000 for the European-specification 1992 Ferrari F40 within estimate but another confirmation that F40s prices are weakening.
The 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra sold for a model record – no non-competition 427 Cobra had ever achieved more. Lesser Cobras generally struggled while the 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra failed to sell with a $2,750,000 bid – the second highest of the week.
1930s American classics did well with all three auction houses selling a 1930 model for over a million. Gooding did best with a 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout selling for $1,792,500 as the company’s top result at Amelia Island 2019. Bonhams top result was $1,187,500 for a 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood. RM Sotheby’s sold a 1930 Duesenberg Model J “Sweep Panel” Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron for $1.6 million in a post-hammer deal while a 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich sold for $1,325,000.
Porsches often sell well at Amelia Island but although four achieved more than a million, it was mostly a struggle. Jan Koum’s delivery-mileage 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach sold for $1,490,000 and a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder achieved only $1,187,5000 – both amongst the lowest results for these models.
The $1,490,000 paid for the 2015 McLaren P1 was similarly a confirmation that prices for these hypercars are markedly weaker than a year or two ago.
Bonhams achieved some stunning results with antique cars from the Don Boulton collection and other auctioneers also had strong results with older cars. This is generally good news for RM Sotheby’s that will offer a variety of antique cars in a special sale in St Louis (Missouri) of the Guyton Collection in May.
Similarly, youngtimers and cars cheaper than $500,000 sold well – again good news for RM Sotheby’s that will offer many youngtimers at its debut German sale in Essen in April.
Top Cars Not Sold at Amelia Island 2019
The top cars failing to sell at the various Amelia Island classic car auctions in 2019 included:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | Auction House |
| 1937 | Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica | HB 5,700,000 | 6,000,000 – 7,500,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1965 | Shelby 427 Competition Cobra | HB 2,750,000 | 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1979 | Porsche 935 | HB 2,000,000 | 2,550,000 – 3,000,000 | Gooding |
| 2005 | Maserati MC12 Corsa | HB 1,350,000 | 1,600,000 – 2,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1965 | Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible | HB 1,150,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,600,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1956 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing | HB 1,150,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1955 | Lancia B24S Spider America | HB 1,100,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | Gooding |
| 1960 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II | HB 1,050,000 | 1,150,000 – 1,300,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1959 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster | HB 975,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1997 | Porsche 911 Turbo S | HB 950,000 | Upon Request | RM Sotheby’s |
RM Sotheby’s brought the largest number of million-dollar cars to Amelia Island 2019 and not surprisingly had the largest number of unaccepted highest bids too. The 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer and the 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra attracted the highest bids of the auction week but neither sold despite coming close to lower estimate.
Bidding for Gooding’s top car – an Otis Chandler’s 1979 Porsche 935 – failed to sell with bidding stopping well short of lower estimate. The 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S at RM Sotheby’s was one of the last air-cooled 911s produced and had only 50 km on the clock – the highest bid was around double what Hagerty quotes for a concourse condition example.
Mercedes Benz 300 SL prices remained uncertain. Neither car offered at RM Sotheby’s sold while Russo and Steele sold a Gullwing for $980,000.
More on Amelia Island 2019 Classic Car Auctions
Amelia Island 2019 Auction Results:
- 2019 Amelia Island General Auction Results Overview
- 2019 Bonhams Amelia Island Sale (Auction Results)
- 2019 Gooding Amelia Island Sale (Auction Results)
- 2019 RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Sale (Auction Results)
Amelia Island 2019 Auction Previews:
- 2019 Bonhams Amelia Island Sale (Auction Preview)
- 2019 Gooding Amelia Island Sale (Auction Preview)
- 2019 RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Sale (Auction Preview)
Amelia Island 2019 Presale Announcements:
- Bonhams – Jacky Ickx 1969 Brabham-Cosworth
- Bonhams – Boulton Antique Cars Collection
- Gooding – Jan Koum Collection Porsches
- Gooding – Competition Porsches
- RM Sotheby’s – American Classics (including a 1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron)
- RM Sotheby’s – High-Performance Cars (including a 1937 Bugatti 57SC Tourer & 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra)
