1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline by Murphy - Sold for $1,705,000
Four cars sold for over $1m each at RM’s 2010 Amelia Island, topping-off a catalogue that totalled over $19 million. The highest priced entry was the 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline by Murphy ($1,705,000), followed by a stunning, Giallo Fly 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 selling for $1,650,000.
This was just one of three Maranello cars to top the magic million, the others being the 1971 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Spyder ($1,017,500) and the alloy-bodied 1967 275 GTB/4 ($1,265,000). Yes, it was unusual that the rarer, alloy car failed to beat the steel one – the colour Nocciola, perhaps, not being to everyone’s taste? Two older cars gave bidders the opportunity to buy into the magic ‘250 GT’ legend: a 1959 250 GT Coupé sold for $165,000, with the ever-popular 1963 250 GTE going for $154,000.
 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupé - Sold for $687,500 |
 1935 Auburn 851SC Speedster - Sold for $418,000 |
 1958 BMW 600 - Sold for $74,250 |
 1965 Fiat 500F Berlina - Sold for $28,600 |
Top-notch 12-cylinder Ferraris and pre-War American Grandes Marques (there must be a better way of describing them...) such as Cord, Cadillac and Auburn are RM staples. The latter category does not get much more exclusive and desirable than any elegant model from Duesenberg, the make which provided the auction’s top-selling car.
The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline was one of 54 examples from the estate of American collector, the late John O’Quinn. A second Model J Duesenberg from the O’Quinn Collection, a beautifully restored 1932 Convertible Coupé, sold for $825,000.
Other O’Quinn Collection cars sold by RM included a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ ($687,500) and a 1935 Auburn 851SC Speedster ($418,000). Other inter-war cars of note numbered the 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Convertible Victoria by Waterhouse for $522,500, the 1931 Cadillac V16 Roadster by Fleetwood at $418,000, and $462,000 for the 1933 Cadillac V16 Convertible Phaeton by Fleetwood.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta - Sold for $1,650,000
Of the later, competition-oriented machinery, neither the 1964 Shelby Cobra USRRC Roadster (bid to $1,275,000) nor the 1958 Tojeiro-Jaguar (bid to $600,000) sold. Small European cars (perhaps a sign of the times?) raised some eyebrows, though, with the 1958 BMW 600 ‘micro-car’ selling for $74,250 and a nice - but ‘everyday’ in Europe - 1965 Fiat 500F Berlina achieving $28,600.
What else? Well, the 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 sold for $374,000, the 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback for $154,000, and the pretty 1960 Abarth 850 Allemano Coupé achieved $82,500 – good money.
 1964 Pontiac Bonneville 'Hank Williams Jr' Custom Convertible - Sold for $225,500 |
 1953 Nash-Healey Roadster - Sold for $85,250 |
Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer, RM Auctions, was satisfied with another strong performance in still uncertain times. “Simply put,” he said, “RM Auctions enjoyed unqualified success at this year’s Amelia Island sale.
“World record prices, standing-room-only attendance, and the most outstanding line-up of cars every offered at Amelia Island, solidified RM’s dominance and long-term standing as the official auction house of the concours weekend. Clients walked away from the auction with a great feeling of confidence as many cars met pre-sale estimates with a number exceeding expectations, illustrating RM’s expertise in the collector car market.”
RM’s next sale will also be in Florida with the March 25 – 28 'Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale' event.
 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Fuel-Injected Convertible - Sold for $66,000 |
 1961 Austin-Healey 'Sebring Sprite' Vintage Racing Car - Sold for $44,000 |
To see the full results for the Mar 13 2010, Automobiles of Amelia Island auction please CLICK HERE.
Its highly anticipated, inaugural 'Sporting Classics of Monaco' auction will take place on May 1 during the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique meeting. We’ll be there, and you can see early entries for this sale listed in the Classic Driver car database HERE.
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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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