A 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion sold for $5,665,000 as the top result at the Gooding Amelia Island 2017 classic car auction.
The highest price paid for a car at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island 2017 classic car sale in Florida was $5,665,000 for a 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion – a new record for a Porsche 911. A 2015 McLaren P1 sold for a world record $2,392,500. Gooding achieved results above a million dollar on nine cars at the Amelia Island 2017 auction. However, the headline car – a 1957 Jaguar XKSS – failed to sell despite the highest bid of the auction week at $11.9 million
Gooding & Co Amelia Island Auction 2017
Gooding & Co held its traditional Amelia Island classic car auction on March 10, 2017, at Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation, in Florida, USA. RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams held collector car sales during the same weekend.
In 2017, Gooding gained $30,568,700 – only half of the record $60 million Gooding earned at Amelia Island in 2016, when the sell-through rate was 87% with an average price of $871,915 per car sold. The 2016 sale memorably included 14 Porsches from the Jerry Seinfeld Collection.
In 2016, Gooding also set a new Amelia Island auction record of $17,160,000 for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider.
Top Results at the Gooding Amelia Island 2017 Sale
The following were the top results achieved at the Gooding Amelia Island 2017 classic car auction:
Year | Car | Price ($) |
1998 | Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion | 5,665,000 |
2015 | McLaren P1 | 2,392,500 |
1989 | Mazda 767B | 1,750,000 |
1949 | Aston Martin DB Mk II | 1,540,000 |
1993 | Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau | 1,540,000 |
1990 | Ferrari F40 | 1,485,000 |
1977 | Porsche 934/5 | 1,375,000 |
1955 | Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America | 1,300,000 |
1965 | Aston Martin DB5 Vantage | 1,100,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at Gooding Amelia Island 2017
Nine cars sold for more than a million dollar at the Gooding Amelia Island 2017 classic car auction. A further two attracted unsuccessful highest bids of over a million dollar. The top five results all set new model records.
1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
A 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion was the most-expensive car sold at the Gooding Amelia Island 2017 classic car sale. The car sold for $5,665,000 – a new world record for a Porsche 911 in any variant (no pre-sale estimate was released).
The 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion is one of only 20 built by Porsche as a street-legal version of its Le Mans 24 Hours race-winning 911 GT1. The car is finished in Arctic Silver over black and a highly original example. It has covered less than 8,000 km since new.
Although this is for all purposes a street-legal racing car, any US owner will only be able to use it on a show/display permit.
The result was almost double that paid for a 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution – one of the racing cars made road legal – at the RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016 sale.
2015 McLaren P1
Gooding set a new model world record when a 2015 McLaren P1 sold for $2,392,500 – around $300,000 more than has been paid for any of the five P1s sold at auction since 2015.
The proceeds of the sale were donated to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology but the strong price was probably more helped by the low mileage (1,100 miles) and high specification. It is also the only P1 delivered in a stunning cobalt metallic, named Professor 2 Blue.
1989 Mazda 767B
The rotary engine 1989 Mazda 767B racing car sold for a post-hammer deal at $1,750,000 – the highest bid not accepted in the auction was $1,625,000.
Only three of the Mazda 767B racers were built with this example being a two-time factory entry at the Le Mans 24 Hours race. It was a class winner in 1990 when it finished the race 20th overall. A year earlier, it finished 12th overall.
The car was restored to its 1990 specification and participated in the 2014 Spa Classic race and the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
1949 Aston Martin DB Mk II
A 1949 Aston Martin DB Mk II sold for $1,540,000 at Gooding Amelia Island 2017. This car was the personal vehicle of David Brown and played an important part in the history of the company.
The 1949 Aston Martin DB Mk II was a road-going version of the 1949 Aston Martin Le Mans 24 Hours racing car that was purposely built for David Brown. It played an important role in testing and the development of the production Aston Martin DB2. It was also extensively raced during the 1950s.
1993 Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau
The 1993 Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau that sold for $1,540,000 is another high-performance Porsche developed from a racing car. It is basically a road-going version of the 1992 IMSA Supercar Champion.
Porsche built only 86 of these cars and the S in the name indicates Sonderwunsch (special wishes), as all of these cars were built by the Motorsport Division to customers’ specific requirements. Porsche took the “light” in Leichtbau seriously – weight was reduced to the minimum that included not fitting a radio or air conditioning.
1990 Ferrari F40
The number of Ferrari F40s on offer at classic car auctions seems to have lessened at recent sales but Gooding achieved a strong $1,485,000 on a 1990 Ferrari F40 at Amelia Island 2017. This was the third highest price paid for a F40 at auction since 2014 and a clear step upwards from recent results. It may encourage other owners to try the market.
The 1990 Ferrari F40 was helped by good condition and a relatively low 1,600 miles. It was the 77th of 213 cars built in US specification – in all Ferrari built more than 1,300 of the F40. Remarkably, it already had five owners prior to the sale.
1977 Porsche 934/5
A 1977 Porsche 934/5 sold for $1,375,000 at Gooding Amelia Island 2017. This IMSA racing car is one of 10 produced in 1977 but the only one fitted with a Group 4 bodywork and a more-powerful engine.
This Porsche had great racing success, including consecutive Group 4 class wins at the 1979 Salzburgring DRM and 1979 Nürburgring ADAC 1000 races. It was subsequently raced in Australia in the 1980 and 1981 seasons and won all but two rounds from pole position to capture the 1981 Australian Sports Car Championship.
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
Around ten 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America cars have sold at public auction for more than a million dollar since 2014 and many more were offered but failed to meet the reserve. The 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America at Gooding failed to sell with a highest bid of $1,225,000 but was announced sold for $1,300,000 by the end of the sale – around $50,000 less than Gooding achieved with the same car at Pebble Beach 2014. RM Sotheby’s sold a similar car for similar money a day later.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage
A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage sold for $1,100,000 at the Amelia Island 2017 classic car auction.
The car is one of only 65 Vantage models built and one of just 10 original factory left-hand drive Vantage examples fitted with air-conditioning.
The1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage is finished in Goodwood Green over tan Conolly leather.
Top Cars Failing to Sell at Gooding Amelia Island 2017
The following five cars with upper estimates above a million dollar failed to sell at the Gooding Amelia Island 2017 classic car auction:
Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate |
1957 | Jaguar XKSS | HB 11,900,000 | 13,000,000-16,000,000 |
2015 | Ferrari LaFerrari | HB 3,400,000 | 3,800,000-4,500,000 |
1993 | Porsche 964 Carrera 3.8 RSR | HB 980,000 | 1,200,000-1,400,000 |
1988 | Porsche 959 Komfort | HB 800,000 | 1,000,000-1,250,000 |
2005 | Porsche Carrera GT | HB 750,000 | 875,000-1,100,000 |
The 1957 Jaguar XKSS received a highest bid of $11.9 million – the highest bid for a car at any public auction thus far in 2017 – but failed to clear the reserve margin. The published estimate was reduced to $13-16 million (from an earlier $16-18 million). The car is one of only 16 built and had a successful racing career in Canada. It was the first time in a decade that an XKSS came to market but this example was hindered by having a larger engine block fitted during the 1980s.
The highest bid for the yellow 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari was $3,400,000 – if accepted, it would have been the second highest price of a LaFerrari sold at auction. Only two used LaFerraris have been sold at auction thus far with the top result $5,170,000 achieved for a black version at Mecum Monterey 2016.
Porsches in all price classes were available in very high numbers at recent classic car auctions and prices are becoming harder to predict with no-sales as likely as above-estimate wonders.
The speed yellow 1993 Porsche 964 Carrera 3.8 RSR is another air-cooled 911 Turbo derivative competition car that could not be registered for road use. Its exceptionally good condition is balanced out by a total lack of competition history.
The 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort is one of only three produced in black and believed to be the only one delivered in black over black. Despite its relatively low 10,000 km mileage, bidding stopped well short of a million and well short of the $1,017,000 that was paid for the same car at RM Sotheby’s Monaco 2016.
Few classic car auctions seem complete without a low-mileage Porsche Carrera GT on offer – four were available at the Amelia Island series after similar numbers at Scottsdale 2017. Although the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT at Gooding was the pick of the bunch, the unsuccessful highest bid of $750,000 fell well short of the million-dollar mark – lower bids bought the cars at RM Sotheby’s.
Gooding & Company’s next classic car auction is Pebble Beach in California in August 2017.
More on Amelia Island 2017
- The Annual Amelia Island Auctions & Concourse d’Elegance
- 2017 Amelia Island Classic Car Auction Results: Overview, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s
- 2017 Amelia Island Auctions Previews: Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s
- 2017 Amelia Island Auction Press Announcements: RM Sotheby’s (Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet, Ferrari 250 GTB SWB Berlinetta, Orin Smith Collection, Bentley Le Mans, Ferrari 166 MM), Gooding (Jaguar XKSS, Racing Cars, Porsche Supercars, McLaren P1, Aston Martins)
- 2016 Amelia Island Auction Results Overview
Amelia Island auctions in 2017 were on the following dates: 9 March – Bonhams, 10 March – RM Sotheby’s (Orin Smith Collection) & Gooding, 11 March – RM Sotheby’s (main auction).