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| 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico - Sold for $4,290,000 |
The top-selling car at RM’s 2011 Amelia Island sale was the 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico, the dramatic, Vignale-styled coupé achieving a whopping $4,290,000 – way over its $3.5m upper estimate.
Likewise, its ‘sister car’ – a ‘restoration class’ 1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupé, also from the collection of Larry Nicklin – did well, selling for $660,000. Other high net worth Ferrari V12s were the 1968 275 GTB/4 ($935,000) and the 1967 330 GTS ($770,000).
Overall, Ontario-based RM, the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours, generated $24.3 million in total sales – its highest in 13 years of running an Amelia event. The 96% sales figure was strong, too, with the company’s Chairman and Founder, Rob Myers remarking:
“We are thrilled by the results from the weekend’s sale, which represent RM’s best performance to date at Amelia Island. The buyer population appears to be more well-informed than ever, recognising quality when they see it.
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| 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider - Sold for $990,000 | 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS - Sold for $770,000 |
“In addition, many examples at our Amelia Island sale were fresh to the market, coming out of long-term ownership. Collectors recognised the unique and rare ownership opportunities these particular lots presented, as was reflected in the prices.”
Older entries from either the 1930s ‘Great Gatsby’ era, or pioneering ‘Brass Cars’, always feature well at RM’s Amelia Island sale and 2011 was no exception. Two immaculate Duesenbergs from the Estate of John M. O’Quinn sold on the upper ends of their estimates, the 1933 Model J Torpedo Victoria achieving $979,000, the 1930 Model J Convertible Coupé $962,500.
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| 1965 Jaguar E-type Series I Roadster 4.2 - Sold for $121,000 |
There was a European interloper, though, in the form of the 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider. Short of an 8C, the Zagato-bodied 6C 1750s are probably the most desirable of pre-War Alfas and the buyer of the $990,000 car will enjoy a perfectly proportioned, potent entry to just about any event out there. This particular car has already been driven in three Mille Miglia retrospectives.
We liked the classic Harley 'bikes which opened the sale and all sold, the 1949 Harley-Davidson Police Servi-car going for $49,500. Also in the early stages of the auction, Lot 108, a pink Ghia-bodied Fiat 500 Jolly complete with wicker seats and a fringed roof, sold for an amazing $82,500. There must be something in the water.
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| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL 'Gullwing' - Sold for $627,000 | 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupé - Sold for $962,500 |
This year, five decades after its sensational Geneva Show debut, the Jaguar E-type will enjoy countless celebrations throughout the world. As a result, prices have firmed considerably and in Florida this March RM sold a 1965 Series I 4.2 Roadster (with less than 10,000 miles on the clock) for $121,000, and a 1961 Series I 3.8 Roadster for $154,000.
There was only one Aston in the sale, the LHD 1959 DB MKIII achieving a mid-estimate $148,500. Also on the European front was a make and model on everyone’s lips at Scottsdale, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL. RM had a Roadster and a ‘Gullwing’ in the catalogue and both sold for an identical sum: $627,000.
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| 1964 Porsche 911 - Sold for $225,500 |
Non-selling cars included the 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Town Car Prototype and the similarly outrageous 1955 Ford 'Beatnik Bubbletop' Custom. And the 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra failed to find a buyer, too.
Finally, with the world and his car-collecting wife discussing the age of the ‘$100,000 Porsche 911’, how about a TWO hundred thousand dollar 911 or, to be precise, this $225,500 example from 1964. The Ivory White coupé (just one of only 45 ’64 cars believed to exist now) was quite clearly as perfect as they come, and sold accordingly.
Please click HERE to see the full results.
RM Auctions' next event will be in Europe, on May 21 2011, its first sale at the Villa d'Este Concours D'Elegance at Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy.
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RM Auctions
One Classic Car Drive Blenheim Ontario N0P 1A0 Canada Telephone: +1 519 352 45 75 Fax: +1 519 351 13 37 Website: www.rmauctions.com Email: [email protected]. |
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions
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