Top cars on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale include classic Bugattis, a 19th-century Benz, and other vintage cars.
Bonhams has arguably the most interesting range of top cars on offer at the Amelia Island 2020 classic car auctions in Florida, USA. The two most-expensive cars on offer are two classic beauties: a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster, estimate $6,500,000 – 9,500,000, and a 1952 Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two Seater, estimate $6,500,000 – 7,500,000. The large number of antique and vintage cars on offer are led by a 1907 Renault Type AI 35/45 HP Vanderbilt Racer, estimate: “refer to department”, and a 1907 American Underslung 50 hp Roadster, estimate $1,500,000 – 1,800,000. the oldest car on offer is a 1897 Benz 10 hp Mylord Coupe. The Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale is surprisingly devoid of any modern hypercars.
Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 Classic Car Sale
Bonhams scheduled its sixth Amelia Island sale for March 5, 2020, at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club in Florida, USA.
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 a sale that included a $9,735,000 result for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer – one of the highest Bugatti results ever.
Top Cars on Offer at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 Sale
The 20 most expensive cars on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction include:
| Year | Car | Estimate | |
| 1 | 1932 | Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster | 6,500,000 – 9,500,000 |
| 2 | 1952 | Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two Seater | 6,500,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 3 | 1907 | Renault Type AI 35/45 HP Vanderbilt Racer | Refer to Department |
| 4 | 1967 | Ferrari 330 GTS | 1,800,000 – 2,200,000 |
| 5 | 1907 | American Underslung 50 hp Roadster | 1,500,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 6 | 1958 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 900,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 7 | 1962 | Aston Martin DB4 Series 4 GT-Engined Saloon | 900,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 8 | 1931 | Invicta 4 ½ Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports Tourer | 850,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 9 | 1931 | Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GTC Fifth Series Cabriolet | 800,000 – 900,000 |
| 10 | 1931 | Cadillac Series 453A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible | 700,000 – 900,000 |
| 11 | 1934 | Mercedes-Benz 500K Four-Passenger Tourer | 600,000 – 800,000 |
| 12 | 1897 | Benz 10 hp Mylord Coupe | 500,000 – 750,000 |
| 13 | 1984 | March 84G.03 Kreepy Krauly | 475,000 – 675,000 |
| 14 | 1967 | Con-Ferr Meyers Manx Dune Buggy | 400,000 – 600,000 |
| 15 | 1911 | Benz 50 hp Victoria | 400,000 – 500,000 |
| 16 | 1925 | Bugatti Type 30 Sports Tourer | 400,000 – 450,000 |
| 17 | 1958 | AC Ace-Bristol | 350,000 – 380,000 |
| 18 | 1928 | Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet | 330,000 -360,000 |
| 19 | 1957 | Dual-Ghia Cabriolet | 275,000 – 350,000 |
| 20 | 1904 | Knox 16/18 HP Tudor 5-Passenger Touring | 275,000 – 325,000 |
Preview of the Million-Dollar Cars at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020
Eight cars on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction have upper estimates exceeding a million dollars.
1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster
The top car on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale is a magnificent classic 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster (estimate $ 6,500,000 – 9,500,000). This genuine 1931 supercharged model with stunning Jean Bugatti-designed factory coachwork was sold new to the future Baron Rothschild.
The red and black Bugatti Type 55 is sold from the estate of Dean S. Edmonds Jr. who owned it for the past three decades. He 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.
For the smaller budget, Bonhams also have lesser Bugattis on offer including a 1925 Bugatti Type 30 Sports Tourer, estimate $400,000 – 450,000, and a 1928 Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet, estimate $330,000 -360,000.
Top Buggati Results at Public Auction
Bonhams has good form with classic Bugattis. At Amelia Island 2016, Bonhams achieved $9,735,000 for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer – one of the highest Bugatti results ever.
More recently, Bonhams sold a 1932 Bugatti Type 55, chassis 55221 – an ex-factory Le Mans participant and subsequently fitted with bodywork by Figoni, for €4,600,000 ($5,070,000) at the Paris 2020 Rétromobile week auction.
The Bugatti marque record (in nominal terms) is a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster sold for $10.4 million at Gooding Pebble Beach 2016 – the only Bugatti ever sold for over $10 million at public auction.
1952 Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two Seater
A 1952 Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two Seater, estimate $6,500,000 – 7,500,000, is the second-most-expensive car on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale. This car was originally delivered in the USA to Commander John “Jack” Rutherford of Florida, who raced it at Daytona Beach.
Jaguar D-Types have struggled at recent auctions but the C-Type is far more rare. Few have sold at public auction in recent years with only the 1953 Jaguar C-Type Works Lightweight sold for $13,200,000 at RM Sotheby’s at Monterey 2015 exceeding the lower estimate of the car on offer.
Top Veteran and Brass Era Cars at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020
A large number of pre-First World War cars will be on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction. The leading car here is the 1907 Renault Type AI 35/45HP Vanderbilt Racer with coachwork by Renault Frères. It was commissioned by Willie K Vanderbilt for American racing and one of four survivors in the USA. It is in a highly original condition and at Pebble Beach 2016 won the Pre-War Racing class, The Phil Hill Trophy and the Revs institute award.
From the same year is the 1907 American Underslung 50hp Roadster, considered the oldest existing sportscar in America. At least two American Underslungs have sold in recent years for near the top estimate for this car.
The sale will also include two early Benz cars: the c.1897 Benz 10hp Mylord-Coupe, estimate US$ 500,000 – 750,000, and a 1911 Benz 50hp Victoria with coachwork by Demarest, estimate US$ 400,000 – 500,000.
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS
The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, estimate $ 1,800,000 – 2,200,000, is somewhat surprisingly the only million-dollar Ferrari on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale. It is also the newest car on offer with a preview estimate exceeding a million dollar.
The Ferrari 330 GTS was the 28th of only 100 produced and is offered with 50,952 miles on the clock. Two 330 GTS cars were sold at Scottsdale 2020 for within the estimate for this car.
Other Top Cars at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 Sale
Other top cars on offer at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 include:
The 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is one of at least three on offer at the various Amelia Island auctions in 2020. It is a European-delivery example in Fire Engine Red over Tan livery. In 2015 it was driven by Stirling Moss to lead the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance.
However, the rarer and more interesting car is the 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Four-Passenger Tourer with coachwork by Mayfair. It is one of only eight 500K chassis sent to the UK and believed to be the only one fitted with Mayfair coachwork.
The extremely rare 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series 4 GT is one of only seven surviving factory-specified left-hand-drive examples with special series GT engine. It is offered by the Estate of Dean S Edmonds Jr.
From the same collection is the 1931 Invicta 4½-Liter S-Type Low Chassis Tourer. Renowned for speed and comfort, this rakish convertible with Vanden Plas coachwork won 1st in Class at Pebble Beach in 1995. It has been in the ownership of Dean Edmonds since 1982. Bonhams sold at Paris 2020 a 1931 Invicta 4.5 litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports for a marque-record €1,610,000 ($1,774,703).
The car to watch is the 1967 Con-Ferr Buggy Meyers Manx, estimate US$ 400,000 – 600,000, in which Steve McQueen took Faye Dunaway on a ride in the movie The Thomas Crown Affair. Steve McQueen is a magic name for high results for any model at car auctions. A standard 1966 Meyers Manx Dune Buggy – in orange as well – sold for $30,800 at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2019.
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.
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)
