A 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood is the top car offered at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 sale but the antique automobiles from the Don C Boulton Collection are the real treat.
A 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood (estimate $1,250,000 – 1,500,000) and a 1968 Brabham-Cosworth BT26/BT26A Formula 1 car (estimate 1,100,000 – 1,400,000) are the top cars offered at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction. Highlights of the sale are likely to be some of the two dozen pioneer, veteran and Brass Era automobiles from the Don C. Boulton Collection – many offered without reserve.
Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 Classic Car Sale
Bonhams scheduled its fifth Amelia Island sale for March 7, 2019, at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club in Florida, USA.
Bonhams is the smaller of the big three catalogue auction houses at Amelia Island and had mixed results in recent years. In 2019, Bonhams earned $16 million with a respectable sell-through rate of 84%. Highlights of this sale were two dozen American antique Brass Era cars from the Don Boulton Collection.
In 2018, Bonhams earned $13.4 million and in 2017 the gains were around $10.2 million. Bonhams’ best Amelia Island auction was in 2016 when it earned $27.5 million in sale that included a $9,735,000 result for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer while a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Cabriolet A sold for $2,970,000.
Top Cars at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 Sale
The ten cars with the highest pre-sale estimate for the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 sale are:
| – | Year | Car | Estimate |
| 1 | 1930 | Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 2 | 1968 | Brabham-Cosworth BT26/BT26A Formula 1 | 1,100,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 3 | 1964 | Shelby 289 Cobra | 900,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 4 | 1913 | Mercer Type 35J ‘Raceabout’ | 800,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 5 | 1998 | Ruf Porsche Turbo R | 650,000 – 850,000 |
| 6 | 1951 | Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet | 600,000 – 750,000 |
| 7 | 1936 | Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Tourer | 600,000 – 800,000 |
| 8 | 1914 | Simplex 50 HP ‘Speedcar’ | 600,000 – 800,000 |
| 9 | 1929 | Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Sports Tourer | 525,000 – 575,000 |
| 10 | 1907 | Tincher Model H 60 HP Seven-Passenger Tourer | 500,000 – 700,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 Sale
Only four cars on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction have estimates exceeding a million dollar.
A 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood (estimate $1,250,000 – 1,500,000) is the lead car for the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 sale. This large pre-war American classic is a well-documented example with its original coachwork, chassis and driveline.
The second lead car is a 1968 Brabham-Cosworth BT26/BT26A Formula 1 racer (estimate 1,100,000 – 1,400,000) that was raced by Jacky Ickx and Jochen Rindt. It participated in nine grand prix races and won the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park.
The 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra is a well-kept, late-production Cobra that retained its original drivetrain and body. It was comprehensively restored to factory specifications and has a known ownership history from new.
Antique Cars at Bonhams Amelia Island 2019
The 24 antique cars from the Don Boulton Collection at the Bonhams sale are among the most exciting lots on offer at the Amelia Island 2019 classic car auctions. Only one is likely to reach a million dollar but strong results are also possible for several models.
The 1913 Mercer Type 35J ‘Raceabout’ is the most valuable car in this remarkable collection. The Mercer is generally considered the first American sports car and is arguably the most legendary American car from the Brass Era. The lovely yellow car on offer is in a fully restored condition.
No less exciting, and hardly cheaper, is the 1914 Simplex 50 HP ‘Speedcar’. The Simplex was designed by a Mercedes importer to the US and clearly influenced by the German original. The intention was to run the car at high speed over long distances The 597ci was nearly double the size of the Mercer and fortunately featured an electric started from new. The restored car has a known ownership history from 1943.
The Bolton Collection includes seven pre-1904 cars that are eligible for the famous London to Brighton run.
It also includes a replica of the 1866 Benz Patent Motorwagen, estimate $50,000 – $70,000. RM Sotheby’s is offering a similar car a day later. Gooding sold one for $52,640 at Scottsdale 2019. The original is in the German Museum in Munich – even the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart must make do with a replica.
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)