2019 RM Sotheby's Amelia Island Sale (Auction Results)

A 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB and a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra were the two surprise top results at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction.

1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis no. 06899 — Greg Keysar ©2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The highest price paid at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 sale was $2,205,000 for a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB. The second highest result was a model-record $1,792,5000 for a 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra. These were also the two highest results of the Amelia Island 2019 auctions after the 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer by Corsica and 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra both failed to sell. Nine cars sold for more than a million dollar ranging from the 1926 Hispano-Suiza to 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder and a McLaren P1.

RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019

RM Sotheby’s 21st annual Amelia Island classic car sale – 8 & 9 March 2019 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, USA.

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 the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

The top ten results, and a few further interesting ones, at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction were:

–	Year	Car	Price ($)	Estimate
1	1965	Ferrari 275 GTB	2,205,000	2,200,000 – 2,400,000
2	1966	Shelby 427 Cobra	1,792,500	1,750,000 – 2,100,000
3	1930	Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron	1,650,000	1,600,000 – 2,000,000
4	2010	Bugatti Veyron 16.4 ‘Sang Noir’	1,500,000	1,350,000 – 1,600,000
5	2015	McLaren P1	1,490,000	1,400,000 – 1,600,000
6	1926	Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet Le Dandy by Chapron	1,352,500	1,300,000 – 1,600,000
7	1934	Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich	1,325,000	1,250,000 – 1,500,000
8	2015	Porsche 918 Spyder	1,187,500	1,250,000 – 1,500,000
9	1992	Ferrari F40	1,017,000	900,000 – 1,100,000
10	2017	Ferrari F12tdf	967,500	950,000 – 1,100,000
–	–	–	–	–
–	2012	Lexus LFA Nürnburgring Package	912,500	825,000 – 925,000
–	1932	Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria by Rollston	863,000	750,000 – 1,000,000
–	2004	Porsche Carrera GT	775,000	600,000 – 750,000
–	1933	Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix	758,500	1,250,000 – 1,600,000
–	1911	Napier 15 HP Victoria	156,800	40,000 – 60,000
–	1931	Rolls Royce Phantom II Brewster	566,000	225,000 – 325,000
–	1886	Benz Patent-Motorwagen Recreation	76,160	40,000 – 60,000

Million-Dollar-Plus Cars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

Nine of the 22 cars with highest presale estimates of above a million dollar were sold at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 auction:

Top Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

There were no particularly special high-end Ferraris on offer at any of the Amelia Island 2019 classic car auctions making it somewhat of a surprise that the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis no. 06899, that achieved $2,205,000 was not only the most-expensive car sold at the RM Sotheby’s sale but at all auctions at Amelia Island 2019. The highest bid of the week was the $5.7 million that failed to buy the 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer by Corsica in the same auction.

This 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB is not a particularly interesting car and the result similarly was respectable but nothing special. This 275 GTB retained its original, matching-numbers engine and was meticulously restored by Motion Products, Inc. in 2017 to its original Argento color over Nero seats with grey cloth inserts, and wearing its original sunburst wheels.

A 1992 Ferrari F40 sold for a mid-estimate $1,017,000. It is a European-specification car with 26,800 km on the clock.

A 2017 Ferrari F12tdf with 350 miles on the clock sold for $967,500 to just miss the million-dollar mark. Prices of the F12tdf remained strong at recent auctions while F40 prices generally seem to trend lower.

Shelby 427 Cobras at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, chassis CSX3359, was the surprise second highest result at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction when it sold for $1,792,500 – a model record for a non-competition 427 Cobra. This Cobra was the penultimate car built and had only covered 1,900 miles since new.

The 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra, chassis no. CSX 3006, estimate $3,000,000-$4,000,000, failed to sell with a highest bid of $2.7 million. This car is one of 19 true production 427 Competition Cobras built and retained its original body.

Pre-War Classics at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton by LeBaron — Rafael Martin © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Pre-war classics performed well at the various Amelia Island 2019 classic car auctions with the top results at both Bonhams and Gooding for 1930 American classics. Although the top Bugatti at RM Sotheby’s failed to sell, several good results were achieved for interwar cars:

The magnificent 1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual Cowl Phaeton, chassis 2336, engine J-487, sold for $1,650,000 in a post-hammer deal concluded during the auction. The car is one of only 18 examples ever produced of the iconic ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton body style by LeBaron with engine no. J-487 the only one on the long 153½-in. wheelbase.

1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan Custom — Erik Fuller © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s also had good results with two further American classics: the authentic exceptionally restored 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan Custom by Dietrich achieved $1,325,000, while the 1932 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria by Rollston sold for mid-estimate $863,000.

No less impressive was the very elegant 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet Le Dandy by Chapron that achieved $1,352,500. The car was originally owned by the Bey of Tunisia, who had it mechanically upgraded in 1931 when the current coachwork was fitted. The restored car won best in class at Pebble Beach in 2004 and 2016.

Modern Hypercars at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

Prices for modern hypercars have been trending lower at recent auctions and although RM Sotheby’s sold three for over a million, all were at the lower end achieved for the models in recent years:

The 2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 ‘Sang Noir’ sold for $1,500,000 in a post-hammer deal. This Veyron is a US-specification car and has covered 3,500 miles since new.

The 2015 McLaren P1 was only marginally cheaper at $1,490,000 but still one of the lowest results for the model. In 2016, McLaren P1s frequently sold for over $2 million.

A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder sold for only $1,187,500 – probably the lowest price paid for a 918 at public auction. Cars sold in 2017 achieved around $1.8 million but prices have been decisively weaker at recent sales. In contrast, the 2004 Porsche Carrera GT sold for a strong above estimate $775,000.

Further Interesting Results at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019

1933 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix — Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A few further noteworthy results at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction:

A 2012 Lexus LFA Nürnburgring Package sold for $912,500 – the third Lexus to have sold for above $880,000 this year.
The 1933 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix sold for only $758,500 – about half estimate despite being an ex-works racer (but not in original condition).
The 1931 Rolls Royce Phantom II Brewster sold for $566,000 – more than double lower estimate.
A unique wicker-bodied 1911 Napier 15 HP Victoria tripled its pre-sale estimate at a final $156,800.
The 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen Recreation sold for $76,160 – similar cars sold for $52,640 at Bonhams Amelia Island 2019 and Gooding Scottsdale 2019. (RM Sotheby’s is offering a further one at Guyton Collection Sale in May 2019.) The original is in the German Museum in Munich – even the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart must make do with a replica.

Top Cars Not Sold at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 Sale

1937 Bugatti SC Tourer by Corsica Front Quarter — Darin Schnabel ©2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A few of the top cars with highest bids that failed to sell at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 sale included:

Year	Car	Highest Bid ($)	Estimate
1937	Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica	HB 5,700,000	6,000,000 – 7,500,000
1965	Shelby 427 Competition Cobra	HB 2,750,000	3,000,000 – 4,000,000
2005	Maserati MC12 Corsa	HB 1,350,000	1,600,000 – 2,000,000
1965	Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible	HB 1,150,000	1,400,000 – 1,600,000
1956	Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing	HB 1,150,000	1,200,000 – 1,400,000
1960	Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II	HB 1,050,000	1,150,000 – 1,300,000
1959	Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster	HB 975,000	1,200,000 – 1,400,000
1997	Porsche 911 Turbo S	HB 950,000	Upon Request
1990	AAR-Toyota Eagle HF89	HB 825,000	900,000 – 1,200,000

Highest bids as observed during sale or reported by Hagerthy. Some car may have sold post-hammer.

The bids for the Bugatti Type 57SC and Competition Cobra were the highest of the auction week. Although both came close to the reserve, consignors were probably hoping for significantly more than the lower estimate.

It remained unclear what the seller of the 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S car was expecting. lt was one of the last air-cooled 911s produced and has only 88 miles on the clock. Hagerty estimates a similar car in concourse condition (but more than delivery mileage) to be worth around half the reported highest bid.

The market for Mercedes Benz 300 SLs remained uncertain. After many were available at Scottsdale and Paris earlier in the year, “only” three were offered at the Amelia Island 2019 auctions. The two at RM Sotheby’s failed to sell while Russo and Steele sold a Gullwing for $990,000.

2019 RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island Sale (Auction Results)