The top results at the 2020 Amelia Island classic car auctions were for a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster and a 1907 Renault Vanderbilt Racer.
The most-expensive car sold during the 2020 Amelia Island collector car sales was a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster that achieved $7.1 million at the Bonhams auction. The second highest result was also at Bonhams – $3,332,500 paid for the 1907 Renault Type AI 35/45 HP Vanderbilt Racer. A 2003 Ferrari Enzo sold for $2,782,500 as the top Ferrari result and the most-expensive car sold by RM Sotheby’s. Gooding’s top result was $2.2 million for a magnificent 1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Torpedo Phaeton. Only four of the 14 cars selling for over a million dollars were Ferraris. Prices and the sale-through rates were generally higher than a year ago.
Top Results at Amelia Island 2020
The top 20 results at the Amelia Island 2020 classic car auctions were as follows:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate ($) | Auction House | |
| 1 | 1932 | Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster | 7,100,000 | 6,500,000 – 9,500,000 | Bonhams |
| 2 | 1907 | Renault Type AI 35/45 HP Vanderbilt Racer | 3,332,500 | Refer to Department | Bonhams |
| 3 | 2003 | Ferrari Enzo | 2,782,500 | 2,750,000 – 3,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 4 | 1914 | Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Torpedo Phaeton | 2,205,000 | 2,700,000 – 3,500,000 | Gooding |
| 5 | 1938 | Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by D’Ieteren | 1,655,000 | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 6 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso | 1,600,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 7 | 1967 | Ferrari 330 GTS | 1,475,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,200,000 | Bonhams |
| 8 | 1969 | Lamborghini Miura P400 S | 1,435,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 | Gooding |
| 9 | 1976 | Porsche 934 | 1,380,000 | 1,250,000 – 1,600,000 | Gooding |
| 10 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II | 1,352,500 | 1,400,000 – 1,700,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 11 | 1932 | Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston | 1,325,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 12 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy | 1,132,500 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 13 | 1987 | Porsche 959 Komfort | 1,050,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 14 | 1958 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,028,000 | 900,000 – 1,100,000 | Bonhams |
| 15 | 1957 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 995,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,300,000 | Gooding |
| 16 | 2019 | McLaren Senna | 978,500 | 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 | Gooding |
| 17 | 2017 | Ford GT | 967,500 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 | Gooding |
| 18 | 1931 | Invicta 4 ½ Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports Tourer | 852,000 | 850,000 – 1,000,000 | Bonhams |
| 19 | 2009 | RUF CTR3 | 808,000 | 800,000 – 1,000,000 | Gooding |
| 20 | 1930 | Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood | 802,500 | 850,000 – 1,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
Top Auctioneers at Amelia Island 2020
Hagerty reported total sales for the Amelia Island 2020 collector car auction of $77.4 million with a sell-through rate of 87% and the average sale price of $252,838. Bonhams, Gooding, and RM Sotheby’s together offered 350 lots of which 306 sold. In 2019, when Russo and Steele also had an auction at Amelia Island, the total sales were $79.6 million with 321 of 452 lots sold (71%) and an average price of $247,906.
Although only 14 cars sold for over a million dollars, compared to 17 a year ago and 22 in 2018, the auction houses probably left Amelia Island with a more positive feeling than a year ago. Top prices were higher and the results were fairly good given the cars on offer.
Bonhams has the two top results at the Amelia Island 2020 auctions but the lowest sell-through rate of 76% and total earnings of $21.2 million with an average price of $240,536 (according to Hagerty).
Gooding had the highest sell-through rate during the auctions (93%) and earned $20.8 million. The average price according to Hagerty was $250,698.
RM Sotheby’s upped the sell-through rate from 92% during the auction to 94% with post-hammer deals to earn $35.3 million. Once again, RM Sotheby’s seemed to have judged the market well – despite a relatively low number of top-end cars, the average sales price was $263,502.
Multi-Million-Dollar Cars Sold at Amelia Island 2020
Only seven cars with multimillion presale estimates were on offer at the various Amelia Island classic car auctions in 2020. Four sold while bidding for the remaining three stopped well short of the lower estimates.
The top result at the Amelia Island 2020 classic car auctions and the most-expensive car sold thus far in 2020 was $7,100,000 paid for a magnificent 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster with factory bodywork designed by Jean Bugatti at the Bonhams sale. Bugatti produced only 38 of the Type 55 Super Sport chassis and only 11 of the 14 fitted with the Jean Bugatti roadster bodywork survived. This Type 55’s first owner was Victor Rothchild, the later 3rd Baron Rothschild. It was sold at Amelia Island from the Estate of Dean S. Edmonds Jr. who bought this Bugatti for £440,000 in 1985 – at the time the most-expensive car ever sold in Britain. Under his ownership, the Bugatti was restored and won First in Class at Pebble Beach in 1993.
The second-most-expensive car sold at Amelia Island 2020 was also at Bonhams: the 1907 Renault Type AI 35/45HP Vanderbilt Racer with coachwork by Renault Frères that was bought for $3,332,5000 by the Audrain Automobile Museum. The Renault was commissioned by Willie K Vanderbilt for American racing and one of four survivors in the USA. It is in a highly original condition and at Pebble Beach 2016 won the Pre-War Racing class, The Phil Hill Trophy and the Revs institute award.
The lone high-price Ferrari sold at Amelia Island 2020 was the 2003 Ferrari Enzo at the RM Sotheby’s that went for a solid $2,782,500. This US-specification Rosso Corsa over red is one of only 399 examples built. The Enzo has only 1,700 miles on the clock.
It was the only 21st-century million-dollar result at any of the Amelia Island 2020 auctions.
The most-expensive car at Gooding was the Edwardian brass-era 1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Torpédo Phaeton with coachwork by Kellner Frères of Paris that sold for $2,205,000. This was the highest Rolls-Royce result since 2012. The restored Silver Ghost was shown at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it received numerous awards including: Most Elegant Open Car, Revs Program at Stanford Award, First in Class, and was one of three Best of Show finalists.
Other Top Results at Amelia Island 2020
Six of the top 20 results were for cars from the 1930s. In addition to the Type 55, a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet with a unique body by D’Ieteren sold for $1,655,000 at RM Sotheby’s. In the same sale, two Model Js sold for over a million dollars: a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston, J-490 achieved the higher result with $1,325,000 while a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy sold for $1,132,500.
There was a general dearth of high-end Ferraris on offer at Amelia Island 2020 and only four achieved million-dollar results. The 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso sold for a strong $1.6 million at RM Sotheby’s but the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II in the same sale achieved just below estimate. The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS at Bonhams sold for well below expectations in a post-hammer deal.
As usual, many Porsches were available at Amelia Island although few were top-end models this year. Gooding had the highest Porsche result when a 1976 Porsche 934 sold for a model record $1,380,000. This 934 was the first of 31 examples built and was raced in European events by Kannacher GT Racing and Kremer Racing. Its in-period racing history includes a 3rd in class at the 1979 Le Mans 24 Hours race.
RM Sotheby’s sold a 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort $1,050,000 – the first million-dollar result for a 959 at auction since 2018. This Porsche 959 was sold new to German racing-car driver Bernd Schwebel. It was later imported to the U.S. and is one of only a handful of California-legal 959s today. It has only 5,822 miles on the clock.
Gooding sold a 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S for $1,435,000 – the highest price paid of the three Miuras that sold at auction for over a million dollars thus far this year. This Miura is a matching numbers example with its original interior.
Of the three 300 SL Roadsters sold at Amelia Island 2020, only the 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster at Bonhams went for over a million. This European-delivery example Fire Engine Red over Tan livery sold for $1,028,000. The unrestored, highly original 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL at Gooding sold for $995,000. It was amongst the first 300 cars produced and custom-built for Princess Ashraf ol-Molouk Pahlavi of Iran. The A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster at RM Sotheby’s sold for mid-estimate $758,500 – a great buy for a driver rather than a display car.
Top Cars Not Sold at Amelia Island 2020
The top cars not sold during the Amelia Island 2020 classic car auctions were:
| Year | Car | Highest Bid ($) | Estimate ($) | Auction House |
| 1958 | Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider | HB 8,000,000 | 9,000,000 – 11,000,000 | Gooding |
| 1952 | Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two Seater | HB 5,400,000 | 6,500,000 – 7,500,000 | Bonhams |
| 2017 | Lamborghini LP 770-4 Centenario | HB 1,600,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 | Gooding |
| 1907 | American Underslung 50 hp Roadster | HB 1,200,000 | 1,500,000 – 1,800,000 | Bonhams |
| 1992 | Ferrari F40 | HB 1,000,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
Bidding for the top cars not sold during the auctions stopped well short of the lower estimates. In all five cases, if the highest bids were accepted it would have resulted in highly respectable, though not spectacular, results. The $8 million bid for the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider was the highest bid during the Amelia Island 2020 auction week.
The 1952 Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two-Seater at Bonhams was the latest Jaguar C or D-Type failing to sell at auction. Sellers clearly continue to values these cars higher than the market.
Interest in the 2017 Lamborghini LP 770-4 Centenario Roadster at Gooding was limited. Owners of the other 19 may ponder whether the striking blue color scheme helped or hindered the sale before testing the market.
The 1992 Ferrari F40 was the only top car at RM Sotheby’s that failed to sell in this auction.
Amelia Island Classic Car Auctions 2020
Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Auction Results
- Bonhams – Amelia Island 2020 Auction Results
- Gooding – Amelia Island 2020 Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s – Amelia Island 2020 Auction Results
Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Auction Previews
- Amelia Island 2020 – General Auctions Presale Overview
- Bonhams: Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Auction Preview
- Gooding: Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Auction Preview
- RM Sotheby’s: Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Auction Preview
Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Auction Announcements
- Bonhams: Steve McQueen Con-Ferr Buggy Meyers Manx
- Bonhams: Dean S. Edmonds Estate (including Bugatti Type 55)
- Gooding: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
- Gooding: Brass Era 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
- Gooding: Modern Supercars
- RM Sotheby’s: Amelia Island Highlights
- RM Sotheby’s: Keith Crain Collection (incl. Duesenberg Model J)
Amelia Island Classic Car Auctioneers 2020
Major auction houses with collector car sales at the Amelia Island, Florida, USA, in March 2020 include:
- Bonhams: 5 March 2020 at Fernandina Beach Golf Club.
- Gooding & Company: 6 March 2020 at Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation.
- RM Sotheby’s: 6 & 7 March 2020 at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island.
