A 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster sold for $7,100,000 as the top result at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction in Florida, USA.
The most expensive car sold at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale was a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster with factory coachwork that sold for $7,100,000. The second-highest result of the auction was $3,332,500 paid for a 1907 Renault Type AI 35/45HP Vanderbilt Racer with coachwork by Renault Frères. The Steve McQueen 1967 Con-Ferr Buggy Meyers Manx, which featured in The Thomas Crown Affair, sold for $456,000. The 1952 Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two-Seater failed to sell despite a highest bid of $5.4 million.
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 $9,735,000 result for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Sports Tourer – one of the highest Bugatti results ever.
Top Results at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 Sale
The top results at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate ($) | |
| 1 | 1932 | Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster | 7,100,000 | 6,500,000 – 9,500,000 |
| 2 | 1907 | Renault Type AI 35/45 HP Vanderbilt Racer | 3,332,500 | Refer to Department |
| 3 | 1967 | Ferrari 330 GTS | 1,475,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,200,000 |
| 4 | 1958 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,028,000 | 900,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 5 | 1931 | Invicta 4 ½ Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports Tourer | 852,000 | 850,000 – 1,000,000 |
| 6 | 1962 | Aston Martin DB4 Series 4 GT-Engined Saloon | 725,000 | 900,000 – 1,100,000 |
| 7 | 1967 | Con-Ferr Meyers Manx Dune Buggy | 456,000 | 400,000 – 600,000 |
| 8 | 1934 | Mercedes-Benz 500K Four-Passenger Tourer | 425,000 | 600,000 – 800,000 |
| 9 | 1928 | Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet | 335,000 | 330,000 -360,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020
Bonhams had eight cars on offer with upper estimates exceeding a million dollar. Of these, six sold with four achieving above a million dollar:
1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster
The top result at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction was $7,100,000 paid for a magnificent 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster with factory bodywork designed by Jean Bugatti. Bugatti produced only 38 of the Type 55 Super Sport chassis and only 11 of the 14 fitted with the Jean Bugatti roadster bodywork survived.
This Type 55’s first owner was Victor Rothchild, the later 3rd Baron Rothschild. It was sold at Amelia Island from the Estate of Dean S. Edmonds Jr. He bought this Bugatti for £440,000 in 1985 – at the time the most-expensive car ever sold in Britain. Under his ownership, the Bugatti was restored and won First in Class at Pebble Beach in 1993.
A second Bugatti from the Estate of Dean S. Edmonds Jr., a 1928 Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet with coachwork by F. Gerber sold for US$ 335,000.
The 1931 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster was the most-expensive car sold at public auction thus far in 2020 and the second auction in a row where Bonhams achieved its top result (and the highest result for the year to date) with a Type 55 Bugatti. The highest result at the Bonhams Paris 2020 classic car auction was €4,600,000 ($5,070,000) paid for a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 with coachwork by Figoni.
The Type 55 model and Bugatti marque record (nominal) is held by a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster that sold for $10,400,000 at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2016 sale.
1907 Renault Type AI 35/45HP Vanderbilt Racer
A large number of pre-First World War cars were on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction. The leading car here was the 1907 Renault Type AI 35/45HP Vanderbilt Racer with coachwork by Renault Frères. It was the only car in the sale without a presale estimate and it did not disappoint when it sold for a magnificent $3,332,5000 – surely a Renault marque record.
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.
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS
The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, estimate $ 1,800,000 – 2,200,000, was somewhat surprisingly the only million-dollar Ferrari on offer at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 sale. A prudent move, if deliberate, as the Ferrari initially failed to sell with a highest bid of $1.4 million but was soon after announced as sold for $1,475,000. This was one of the lowest results for the model in years and around a million lower than the 330 GTS cars regularly sold for in 2015-17.
The Ferrari 330 GTS was the 28th of only 100 produced and had 50,952 miles on the clock. Two 330 GTS cars were sold at Scottsdale 2020 for within the estimate for this car.
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
The 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster sold for $1,028,000. It is a European-delivery example in Fire Engine Red over Tan livery. In 2015 the roadster was driven by Stirling Moss to lead the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance.
Arguably the more interesting car was the 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Four-Passenger Tourer with coachwork by Mayfair that sold for only $425,000 (presale estimate $600,000-800,000, no reserve). It is one of only eight 500K chassis sent to the UK and believed to be the only one fitted with Mayfair coachwork.
Other Top Results at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020
A few further interesting results at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020 classic car auction include:
The 1931 Invicta 4½-Liter S-Type Low Chassis Tourer, sold from the Dean S. Edmonds estate achieved an in-estimate $852,000. Renowned for speed and comfort, this rakish convertible with Vanden Plas coachwork won 1st in Class at Pebble Beach in 1995. Bonhams sold a 1931 Invicta 4.5 litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports at Paris 2020 for a marque-record €1,610,000 ($1,774,703).
Somebody got a good deal when the rare rare 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series 4 GT, one of only seven surviving factory-specified left-hand-drive examples with special series GT engine, sold for only $725,000.
The 1967 Con-Ferr Buggy Meyers Manx, estimate US$ 400,000 – 600,000, in which Steve McQueen took Faye Dunaway on a ride in the movie The Thomas Crown Affair, sold for a marque and model record $456,000. Steve McQueen remains 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.
Top Cars Not Sold at Bonhams Amelia Island 2020
The top car failing to sell at the Bonhams auction was the 1952 Jaguar C-Type Sports Racing Two Seater, estimate $6,500,000 – 7,500,000, that received an unsuccessful highest bid of $5.4 million. This car was originally delivered in the USA to Commander John “Jack” Rutherford of Florida, who raced it at Daytona Beach. It has a simple, uncomplicated racing history that contributes to its good original condition.
The 1907 American Underslung 50hp Roadster, estimate $1,500,000 – 1,800,000, failed to sell with a highest bid of $1.2 million. At least two American Underslungs have sold in recent years for near the top estimate for this car.
The 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow with coachwork by Mulliner Park Ward that was driven in the movie The Thomas Crown Affair was withdrawn prior to the sale.
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.