A Ferrari Enzo is the top car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 sale but the classic Bugattis and Duesenberg Model Js are the more interesting automobiles.
The most expensive car on sale at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction is a 2003 Ferrari Enzo, estimate $2,750,000 – 3,000,000. More interesting cars include two classic Type 57 Bugattis: a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by D’Ieteren and a 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff. Further highlights include three large American 1930s classics: a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy, a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston, and a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood. RM Sotheby’s has a surprisingly thin top-end portfolio at Amelia Island 2020 but is very well represented in the currently hot $250,000 – $800,000 market and with late 20th-century cars.
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
RM Sotheby’s 22nd annual Amelia Island classic car sale – 6 & 7 March 2020 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, USA.
In 2020, RM Sotheby’s earned $35.8 million with a sell-through rate of 94%.
In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned $38.1 million at Amelia Island with a sell-through rate of 84%. In 2018, RM Sotheby’s grossed $27 million with a sell-through rate of 85% with 87 of 102 lots offered sold.
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.
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.
Top Cars on Offer at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 Sale
The top cars on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction include:
| Year | Car | Estimate | |
| 1 | 2003 | Ferrari Enzo | 2,750,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 2 | 1938 | Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by D’Ieteren | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 3 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 4 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II | 1,400,000 – 1,700,000 |
| 5 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 6 | 1932 | Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 7 | 1992 | Ferrari F40 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 8 | 1987 | Porsche 959 Komfort | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 |
| 9 | 1930 | Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood | 850,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 10 | 1939 | Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff | 800,000 – 950,000 |
| 11 | 2004 | Porsche Carrera GT | 750,000 – 800,000 |
| 12 | 1957 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 700,000 – 800,000 |
| 13 | 1912 | Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Torpedo Phaeton | 600,000 – 750,000 |
| 14 | 2011 | Ferrari 599 GTO | 525,000 – 625,000 |
| 15 | 1973 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta | 500,000 – 575,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
RM Sotheby’s has only nine cars with presale estimates of a million-dollar on offer at Amelia Island 2020. It left the top end of the market this year completely to Bonhams and Gooding but is very well represented in the below half-a-million-dollar market, as well as with cars from the late twentieth century / early twenty-first century that performed very well at recent auctions.
Top Ferraris at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 Auction
The most-expensive lot at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 sale is a 2003 Ferrari Enzo, (Est. $2,750,000 – $3,000,000), chassis no. 132654. It is one of just 399 examples built.
In 2005, the car joined the renowned Lingenfelter Collection, where it has been carefully maintained and kept in climate-controlled storage. The Rosso Corsa over red leather interior Enzo has only 1,700 miles on the clock.
The two Ferrari Enzos sold in 2019 were both at Bonhams auctions: at the Zoute sale for as little as $1,7 million while the $3,126,000 paid at Bonmont was a particularly strong Enzo result.
The only other million-dollar modern Ferrari in the sale is a 1992 Ferrari F40 (Est. $1,200,000 – $1,400,000). Although it is one of only 22 examples built for 1992, more than 1,300 F40s were built in total. This F40 is one of the 211 U.S.-specification models and currently displays less than 13,000 miles.
Classic Ferraris on offer include a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II, estimate $ 1,400,000 – 1,700,000, and a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso, estimate $ 1,300,000 – 1,600,000. However, the choice classic Ferrari at Amelia Island 2020 is the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider (Estimate: $9,000,000 – $11,000,000) at Gooding.
Top Bugattis at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
The second-most-expensive car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction is the rare, highly original, 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by D’Ieteren, chassis no. 57589, (Est. $1,500,000 – $2,000,000). It was originally delivered as a rolling chassis to Belgian coachbuilder Albert D’Ieteren and presented to its first owner clad in an entirely unique three-seat convertible body.
Continually maintained throughout its life by devoted owners, the Bugatti was owned during the 1950s by the famous French Fauvist painter André Derain. In 2017 the Bugatti underwent a restoration limited to cosmetic considerations and service of the original mechanical components as needed, with the goal of preserving its authenticity. It is currently finished in a rich two-tone black and burgundy.
A further 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio with coachwork by Gangloff, estimate $800,000 – $950,000, will also be on offer in the RM Sotheby’s sale. A 1927 Bugatti Type 38A Grand Sport, estimate $350,000 – $400,000, is available for buyers with a smaller budget.
However, the top Bugatti on offer during the week is certainly the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster (estimate $ 6,500,000 – 9,500,000) at Bonhams.
1930s American Classics at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
The RM Sotheby’s sale includes three million-dollar-plus American classics:
The 1932 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy, estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000, is enticingly offered without reserve. Its history begins in ganglands and ends among the great collectors of the last half-century.
One of approximately 25 Murphy convertible coupes built with a conventional folding top, the Model J, engine no. J-143, was sold new to Jake “The Barber” Factor of California, a Prohibition-era gangster and con artist affiliated with the Chicago Outfit. It changed hands several times before landing with legendary restorer Joe “The Duesenberg Doctor” Kaufmann. J-143 went on to become the crown jewel of the Ben Caskey Collection and later, the S. Ray Miller Museum for two decades.
Acquired by Mr. Crain in 2004, the Model J has only been occasionally shown, winning 2nd in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2006 and appearing at the Concours d’Elegance of America in 2014 and 2017, receiving a Lion Award in the latter.
The one-off 1932 Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston, J-490, (Est. $1,200,000 – $1,400,000) is offered from the esteemed collection of John D. Groendyke. Available publicly for the first time in 70 years and retaining its original chassis, firewall, engine, and coachwork, the Duesenberg comes to auction following extensive freshening and a full engine rebuild, after which it was exhibited at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and then driven without fault in the Duesenberg Tour later that year.
The 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood, (Est. $850,000 – $1,000,000) is another car from the Keith Crain Collection offered without reserve. The CCCA Full Classic Sport Phaeton is one of just 85 sport phaetons built in 1930 and 1931.
The Cadillac was in the famed Otis Chandler Collection until 2006. During that time, it underwent a careful, CCCA award-winning restoration, and was later invited to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, winning Third in Class. Acquired by Mr. Crain in 2006, the V-16 presents wonderfully in Bottle Green and is eligible for various prestigious concours events.
RM Sotheby’s sold a similar model at the Arizona 2020 auction for $1,105,000.
1987 Porsche 959 at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
A 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort (Est. $1,000,000 – $1,250,000) is the only million-dollar German car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 auction. It is one of only 337 examples produced. 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.
The other top German cars on offer includes a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT with a relatively high estimate of $750,000 – 800,000 and a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with a relatively low estimate of $700,000 – 800,000. It is the cheapest of the three 300 SL Roadsters offered at Amelia Island 2020.
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.
