Top results at the Amelia Island 2022 classic car auction included the most expensive French and Japanese cars ever sold at public auction and 33 million-dollar results.
A 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop “Goutte d’Eau” Coupe achieved $13,425,00 as the most expensive car sold at the Amelia Island classic car auctions in Florida, USA, in early March 2022. It set a new marque record and was the most expensive French car ever. A 1967 Toyota Shelby 2000 GT also set a new marque record and became the most expensive Japanese car ever sold at public auction. Gooding had the most successful Amelia Island 2022 classic car auction with 20 million dollar cars, followed by RM Sotheby’s with 12, and Bonhams with two. The age of the 33 million-dollar cars sold at Amelia Island 2022 ranged from a 1929 Duesenberg Model J to a 2020 McLaren Speedtail.
Amelia Island Classic Car Auctions 2022
The Amelia Island classic car auctions took place in Florida, USA, on 3 – 5 March 2022 with major sales by Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s, and Gooding. Results were generally strong although not as exuberant as at auctions in January and February 2022. Prices remained high for quality cars while fewer cars in less than concourse conditions managed to achieve top prices.
According to Hagerty, the three auction houses combined earned $125 million at Amelia Island 2022, which was lower than the nearly $150 million predicted but well ahead of recent years (excluding post-hammer deals). The sell-through rate remained steady at around 90%. Although a variety of interesting cars were on offer, the quality of the consignments was generally not the highest level and prices paid confirmed that buyers would not pay over the odds just because the market seems to be rising.
Gooding had the best Amelia Island 2022 sale: a record $69,209,480 earned with a sell-through rate of 94%, the most expensive car sold, and the highest number of million-dollar results (20). RM Sotheby’s earned $46,636,640 with an 89% sell-through rate and 12 cars sold for over a million dollars. Bonhams earned a more modest $15 million with a 95% sell-through rate, and two cars achieved a million dollars.
Million-Dollar Results at Amelia Island 2022 Classic Car Auctions
The following 33 cars sold for over a million dollars at the Amelia Island 2022 classic car auctions:
| Price (€) | Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate | Auction House |
| 1 | 1937 | Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe | 13,425,000 | In Excess of $10,000,000 | Gooding |
| 2 | 1955 | Porsche 550 Spyder | 4,185,000 | 4,500,000 – 5,500,000 | Bonhams |
| 3 | 1934 | Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich | 4,130,000 | 3,750,000 – 4,500,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 4 | 2015 | Ferrari LaFerrari | 3,662,500 | 3,600,000 – 4,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 5 | 1930 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy | 3,525,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,400,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 6 | 2019 | Bugatti Chiron Sport | 3,360,000 | 3,000,000 – 3,300,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 7 | 1954 | Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback | 2,975,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 | Gooding |
| 8 | 1959 | Porsche 718 RSK | 2,975,000 | 2,500,000 – 3,500,000 | Gooding |
| 9 | 2020 | McLaren Speedtail | 2,700,000 | 2,600,000 – 3,000,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 10 | 1967 | Toyota Shelby 2000 GT | 2,535,000 | 2,750,000 – 3,500,000 | Gooding |
| 11 | 1991 | Ferrari F40 | 2,452,500 | 2,400,000 – 2,800,000 | Gooding |
| 12 | 1965 | Porsche 904/6 | 2,205,000 | 2,500,000 – 3,250,000 | Gooding |
| 13 | 1959 | BMW 507 Series II | 2,150,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,400,000 | Gooding |
| 14* | 1994 | Bugatti EB110 GT Prototype | 2,100,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 15 | 1967 | Ferrari 330 GTS | 2,095,000 | 2,000,000 – 2,400,000 | Gooding |
| 16 | 1955 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 2,040,000 | 1,500,000 – 1,650,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 17 | 1998 | RUF Turbo R Limited | 2,040,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 | Gooding |
| 18 | 2005 | Porsche Carrera GT | 2,012,500 | 1,800,000 – 2,400,000 | Gooding |
| 19* | 1932 | Packard 904 Delux Eight Individual Custom Stationary Coupe | 1,900,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,400,000 | Gooding |
| 20 | 1993 | Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8 Clubsport | 1,875,000 | 1,800,000 – 2,400,000 | Gooding |
| 21 | 1979 | Porsche 935 | 1,765,000 | 1,700,000 – 2,000,000 | Gooding |
| 22 | 1974 | Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR IROC | 1,627,500 | 1,100,000 – 1,300,000 | Gooding |
| 23 | 1954 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,600,000 | 1,100,000 – 1,300,000 | Gooding |
| 24 | 1962 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,545,000 | 1,400,000 – 1,700,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 25 | 1979 | Porsche 935 | 1,462,500 | 1,500,000 – 1,800,000 | Gooding |
| 26 | 1963 | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Split-Window Coupe | 1,242,500 | 750,000 – 900,000 | Gooding |
| 27 | 1953 | Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet | 1,215,000 | 900,000 – 1,200,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 28 | 1965 | Ferrari 275 GTB | 1,215,000 | 1,300,000 – 1,600,000 | Gooding |
| 29 | 1964 | Shelby 289 Cobra | 1,132,500 | 1,100,000 – 1,300,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 30 | 1994 | Porsche 911 Turbo S ‘Package’ | 1,105,000 | 900,000 – 1,200,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 31 | 2019 | Ford GT | 1,077,500 | 950,000 – 1,100,000 | Gooding |
| 32 | 1929 | Duesenberg Model J Convertible Victoria | 1,066,500 | 900,000 – 1,200,000 | Bonhams |
| 33 | 1991 | Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Lightweight | 1,050,000 | 7000,000 – 900,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 34 | 1966 | Shelby 427 Cobra | 1,050,000 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 | Gooding |
NOTE: Include auction premium, may include *post-hammer deals.
Top Cars at Amelia Island 2022
1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe — Most Expensive French Car Ever
The most expensive car sold at Amelia Island 2022 was the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop “Goutte d’Eau” Coupe that achieved $13,425,000 in the Gooding auction. It was the most expensive car sold in 2022 thus far. The car set the new Talbot-Lago marque record and is also the most expensive French car ever sold at public auction (in nominal terms). It is the 55th car to achieve over $10 million at public auction but only the second to so at Amelia Island (a record $17,160,000 was paid for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider at Gooding Amelia Island 2016) and was the 35th most expensive car ever sold at auction (in nominal terms).
Between 1937 and 1939, Talbot-Lago produced an extremely limited number ofT150-C-SS chassis, which were bodied by a variety of coachbuilders. The most spectacular examples were the around ten cars bodied by Figoni et Falaschi as teardrop coupes. Of these, only two received all-aluminum coachwork with fully enveloping, skirted front fenders. The record car on chassis 90107 is the only surviving example still having its original coachwork.
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
Although Gooding sold seven Porsches for over a million dollars at Amelia Island 2022, the most expensive Porsche of the week was the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder at $4,185,000 in the Bonhams auction. It was sold from 50 years of single-family ownership.
This 550 Spyder was campaigned extensively in Europe, including at the Nürburgring, by its first owner, German racing driver Theo Helfrich. The Porsche was acquired in 1959 by an American military man stationed in Germany, who brought it back to the US, where it was purchased by the vendor in 1972.
Gooding also had solid results with two 1950s racing Porsches: a 1959 Porsche 718 RSK sold for a mid-estimate $2,975,000 — this Porsche had a successful in-period racing history and was sold also from 50 years of single-family ownership. The 1965 Porsche 904/6 similarly had in-period racing history but failed to reach the lower estimate.
1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria
The most expensive car sold in the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2022 sale was a 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich that achieved $4,130,000. This First in Class and runner-up to Best of Show at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is one of only three known survivors. It narrowly failed to take the Packard marque record.
1967 Toyota Shelby 2000 GT — Most Expensive Japanese Car Ever
The 1967 Toyota-Shelby 2000 GT, chassis MF10-10001, achieved $2,535,000 at Gooding, as the most expensive Toyota and most expensive Japanese car ever sold at public auction. It was the first Toyota 2000 GT produced and used as a promotion car in the USA before Carroll Shelby prepared and race it as the first Toyota participating in SSCA events. It came from single ownership since 1980 and was never previously sold in a public auction.
Despite selling below the estimate of $2,750,000 to $3,500,000, it increased the Japanese, Toyota, and 2000 GT model records by some margin.
Further Interesting Results at Amelia Island 2022
A few further interesting results at Amelia Island 2022 included:
The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy sold for $3,525,000 at RM Sotheby’s — more than a million above the pre-sale upper estimate and the seventh Duesenberg Model J to have sold for over $3 million in the past year.
The 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback sold for a model record $2,975,000 at Gooding.
The 1998 RUF Turbo R Limited sold for a new marque record $2,040,000 at Gooding.
The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT model record was increased to $2,012,500 at Gooding — a million-dollar result a year ago was still noteworthy.
Only four million-dollar Ferraris were sold at Amelia Island, with the 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari and the 1991 Ferrari F40 both achieving strong but not spectacular results.
Although the Roadster at Bonhams failed to sell (despite a very strong highest bid), two Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwings sold for well above estimates. The more practical Roadster was often more popular in recent years but currently, the Gullwings are attracting not only the most attention but also the higher prices. Thus far in 2022, ten Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs sold for over a million-dollar — 6 Gullwings and 4 Roadsters.
Amelia Island Classic Car Auctions 2022
Top Amelia Island 2022 Auctions
The top auctions at Amelia Island are by:
- RM Auctions at the Ritz Carlton hotel on 5 March 2022.
- Gooding & Co at the Omni Amelia Island Resort on 4 March 2022
- Bonhams at the Fernando Beach Golf Club on 3 March 2022
Amelia Island 2022 Auction Results
- Amelia Island 2022 Auctions Results Overview
- Gooding: Amelia Island Auction 2022 Results
- Bonhams: Amelia Island Auction 2022 Results
- RM Sotheby’s: Amelia Island Auction 2022 Results
Amelia Island 2022 Auction Previews
Amelia Island 2022 Pre-Sale Announcements
- Bonhams: 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
- Gooding: Talbot-Lago Teardrop Coupe
- Gooding: Racing Porsches Announced (935 & 911 Carrera RSR)
- Gooding: Top Porsches Announced (718 RSK, 964 Carrer RS 3.8, Carrera GT)
- Gooding: American Classics (Pair of Packard Model 904s and 1960s Corvettes)
- Gooding: Toyota-Shelby 2000 GT (Like Most Expensive Japanese Car Ever)
- Gooding: Works Porsche 904/6
- Gooding: BMW 507 Roadster
- Gooding: Italian Classic Sportcars (330 GTS, 275 GTB, OSCA MT4)
- RM Sotheby’s: Modern Hypercars (LaFerrari, Chiron Sport, McLaren Speedtail)
Amelia Island 2021 Auction Results
- Bonhams: Amelia Island 2021 Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s: Amelia Island 2021 Auction Results