Mid-century German classic sports cars including a Merecedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and Roadster, and a BMW 507 Roadster are on offer at the Gooding Amelia Island 2023 sale.
Several 1950s German classic sportscars are on offer at the Gooding Amelia Island classic car sale in March 2023 in Florida USA. The late-production black 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster was fitted with disk brakes. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing has a remarkably well-known provenance from new. The late-production 1958 BMW 507 Series II was one of the first classics acquired by famed collector Oscar Davis.
Gooding Amelia Island 2023 Auction
Gooding & Company: Amelia Island Auction on March 3, 2023, at the Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Resort, Florida, USA. Gooding is skipping Scottsdale, Arizona, in January 2023 but traditionally performed strongly at Amelia Island.
In 2023, Gooding achieved a record $72,676,1888 by selling 148 of 155 lots for a 95% sell-through rate. The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold for $18,045,000 to set a new Amelia Island classic car auction record.
Gooding Amelia Island Classic Car Auction Results 2016 – 2024:
| Year | Earnings — % Sell-Through — Car Lots Sold |
| 2024 | $67,342,270 — 87% — 111 of 127 lots |
| 2023 | Record $72,676,1888 — 95% — 148 of 155 lots |
| 2022 | $69,209,480 — 94% — 93 of 99 lots |
| 2021 | 2021, Gooding held an online auction in place of the regular Amelia Island sale. |
| 2020 | $20,785,080 — 93% — 83 of 89 lots |
| 2019 | $22 million — 88% — 78 of 89 lots |
| 2018 | $35.5 million — 94% — 81 of 86 lots |
| 2017 | $30.5 million — 78% — 69 of 88 lots |
| 2016 | $60 million — 87% |
Classic 1950s German Sports Cars on Sale at Gooding Amelia Island 2023
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Mercedes-Benz’s legendary 300 SL is largely considered to be one of the most beautiful and well-rounded sports cars ever produced, with a long-lasting legacy of status and influence in the automotive world. The 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,500,000) is a late-production, disc-brake, iron-block model, one of approximately 270 examples built before the introduction of the alloy-block version of the fuel-injected inline six-cylinder engine. To Mercedes-Benz purists and aficionados, these cars represent the ideal enthusiast specification, combining the improved stopping power of the four-wheel disc brakes, introduced in 1961, with the more robust and reliable iron-block engine.
With a well-documented provenance from new, chassis 3047 has been housed under the care of just six owners, and was acquired by the consignor, a prominent American collector and established Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, in 2012. Since then, the current owner has commissioned a recent concours-quality restoration by the renowned Mercedes-Benz Classic Center USA of Irvine, California, and the car today presents beautifully in its period-correct color scheme of black over green. Throughout the past decade, chassis 3047 has received routine maintenance and has joined important rallies such as the California Mille and the Colorado Grand. Per its factory data card, this example retains its matching-numbers chassis, body, and engine, which, coupled with its well-known provenance and show-quality presentation.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
In late 1953, famed US importer Maximilian Hoffman encouraged Mercedes-Benz to build a series version of their successful 300 SL sports car, and a few months later, history was made when the 300 SL made its debut at the 1954 International Motor Sports Show in New York. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,000,000), finished in Silver Grey Metallic (DB-180) over Blue Vinyl/Blue Plaid (Code L1) upholstery, has a remarkably well-known provenance from new, as documented in the authoritative Gullwing Registry published by the Gull Wing Group.
This Gullwing has spent its entire life in North America; the highly optioned Gullwing was first sold to John Dick of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and then joined the collections of various American collectors in Colorado and California. Acquired by the current owner in 2006, this Gullwing has enjoyed restorative work of the highest quality by marque specialists. The car’s legendary 3.0-liter fuel-injected engine was rebuilt and dyno-tested by Ed Pink Racing Engines, with the work completed in 2009-2010, and the body was restored by the world-famous Nethercutt Collection in Southern California. This exquisite 300 SL Gullwing comes to Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island Auctions with its factory-equipped offerings, rare Rudge knock-off wheels, and fully known and documented history from new.
1958 BMW 507 Series II
Upon its spectacular debut at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW 507 roadster, designed by Count Albrecht von Goertz, quickly became one of the greatest automotive designs of all time. Relative to its contemporaries, most notably the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, the BMW 507 was exceedingly rare, with just 254 examples produced in total. Of those, only 218 examples were built as Series II models, initially intended as a separate model for the American market which then became the production standard in mid-1957.
The late-production 1958 BMW 507 Series II (Estimate: $1,600,000 – $1,800,000), chassis 70183, is among the rarest, collectible, and iconic BMWs ever made, and initially came finished in the seldom-seen shade of Papyrus White. Chassis 70183 was delivered new to the official BMW importer Fadex Commercial Corporation of New York in 1959. In the early 1970s, it became one of the first classics acquired by well-known collector Oscar Davis and was later owned by a limited number of collectors, including Anthony Wang, the notable Long Island-based Ferrari custodian.
In recent years, chassis 70183, which was refinished in a dark blue exterior, received cosmetic and mechanical attention by the highly respected Sargent Metal Works of Vermont. This work included replating the brightwork, fitting a new exhaust system, thoroughly servicing the chassis, and retrimming the interior with high-quality beige leather and carpeting.
Amelia Island Classic Car Auctions 2023
Top Amelia Island 2023 Auctions
The top auctions at Amelia Island are by:
- Bonhams at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on 2 March 2023
- Broad Arrow at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island on 3-4 March 2023
- Gooding & Co at the Omni Amelia Island Resort on 3 March 2023
- RM Auctions at Fernandina Beach on 2 March 2023.
Amelia Island 2023 Auction Results
- Amelia Island 2023 Million-Dollar Results Overview
- Gooding Amelia Island 2023 Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2023 Auction Results
Amelia Island 2023 Pre-Sale Announcements
- Gooding: Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
- Gooding: More Top Ferraris
- Gooding: 1950s German Sportscars
- Gooding: Four RUF Cars
Previous Amelia Island Auction Results
- 2022: Overview, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s
- 2021: Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s