The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 sale was $2,782,5000 paid for a 2003 Ferrari Enzo. Eight cars sold for more than a million dollars.
A 2003 Ferrari Enzo sold for $2,782,500 as the most-expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction. This was also the highest Ferrari result of the Florida auction series. Eight cars sold for over a million dollar at the RM Sotheby’s auction including two 1930s Duesenberg Model Js, a Buggati Type 57, a Porsche 959, and two classic early 1960s Ferrari 250 GTs. RM Sotheby’s had a very good sell-through rate for the more expensive cars on offer – only a Ferrari F40 failed to sell.
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 $60 million at Amelia Island with a remarkably high 98% sell-through rate.
Top Results at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 Sale
The top results at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | |
| 1 | 2003 | Ferrari Enzo | 2,782,500 | 2,750,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 2 | 1938 | Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by D’Ieteren | 1,655,000 | 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
| 3 | 1963 | Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso | 1,600,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 |
| 4 | 1961 | Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II | 1,352,500 | 1,400,000 – 1,700,000 |
| 5 | 1932 | Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston | 1,325,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 6 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy | 1,132,500 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 7 | 1987 | Porsche 959 Komfort | 1,050,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 |
| 8 | 1930 | Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood | 802,500 | 850,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 9 | 1939 | Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff | 797,000 | 800,000 – 950,000 |
| 10 | 2004 | Porsche Carrera GT | 786,000 | 750,000 – 800,000 |
| 11 | 1957 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 758,500 | 700,000 – 800,000 |
| 12 | 1970 | Lola T165 | 665,000 | 200,000 – 250,000 |
| 13 | 1912 | Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Torpedo Phaeton | 582,500 | 600,000 – 750,000 |
| 14 | 2011 | Ferrari 599 GTO | 566,000 | 525,000 – 625,000 |
| 15 | 1973 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta | 500,000 | 500,000 – 575,000 |
| 16 | 1970 | Iso Grifo | 500,000 | 500,000 – 550,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
RM Sotheby’s brought ten cars with upper estimates of a million-dollar or more to the Amelia Island 2020 classic car sale. Of these ten cars, nine sold with eight achieving above a million dollars:
Top Ferrari Results at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
RM Sotheby’s offered only one multimillion-dollar car to the Amelia Island 2020 sale, a 2003 Ferrari Enzo, and it sold for a good $2,782,500, as not only the top RM Sotheby’s result but also the top Ferrari result at the Amelia Island 2020 auctions.
The 2003 Ferrari Enzo, (Est. $2,750,000 – $3,000,000), chassis no. 132654, was one of only 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 only other million-dollar modern Ferrari in the sale was a 1992 Ferrari F40 (Est. $1,200,000 – $1,400,000) that failed to sell with a highest bid of $1 million. This was the only top car that failed to find a new owner in this auction.
The two classic era Ferraris both sold. The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II went for just below estimate while the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso achieved top estimate.
Top Bugattis at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
The top Bugatti result of the week, and the top Amelia Island 2020 result overall was $7,100,000 paid for a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster at Bonhams. However, RM Sotheby’s also had success with two Bugatti Type 57s:
The second-most-expensive car at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction was the rare, highly original, 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by D’Ieteren, chassis no. 57589, that sold for $1,655,000. It was originally delivered as a rolling chassis to Belgian coachbuilder Albert D’Ieteren and presented to its first owner clad in a unique three-seat convertible body.
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 sold for $797,000 – just below estimate.
Top American 1930s Classics at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
Two Duesenberg Model Js were sold for over a million dollar at the Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction:
The one-off 1932 Duesenberg Model J Stationary Victoria by Rollston, J-490, entered the auction with a slightly lower estimate but achieved the higher result with $1,325,000. It was offered from the esteemed collection of John D. Groendyke. This Model J retained its original chassis, firewall, engine, and coachwork. It was exhibited at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and then driven without fault in the Duesenberg Tour later that year.
The 1932 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy sold for $1,132,500. Its history begins in ganglands and ends among the great collectors of the last half-century. It was offered from the Keith Crain Collection. Mr. Crain acquired the Model J in 2004 and showed the Duesenberg only occasionally, 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 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood, another car from the Keith Crain Collection, sold for $802,500.
1987 Porsche 959 Komfort
A 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort sold for $1,050,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 auction. This was the first million-dollar result for a 959 at auction since 2018.
Only 337 examples produced and with results weaker at recent sales, relatively few tested the market in 2019 and thus far in 2020. 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.
Further Interesting Results at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020
A few further interesting results at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction included:
- A 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for $758,500 – the lowest result of the three Roadsters sold in Amelia Island but within estimate and a great buy for a driver rather than a display car.
- A 2004 Porsche Carrera GT sold for a strong $786,000 – priced for the Carrera GT seem again stronger.
- The 1970 Lola T165 sold for $665,000 – more than double upper estimate.
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.
