Lot 204 - 1953 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A - Sold for $143,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $120,000-$150,000. Recently restored and in as-new condition.
RM Auctions held its 2010 Automobiles of Amelia Island auction on Saturday, March 13th in Amelia Island, Florida, posting in excess of $19 million in total sales with a strong 88% sell-through rate.
Returning to the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the single-day sale saw 112 cars cross the block before a packed house, with four cars breaking the million dollar mark and 15 lots exceeding their pre-sale estimates. The sale once again acted as a prelude to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.“Simply put, RM Auctions enjoyed unqualified success at this year’s Amelia Island sale,” said Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer, RM Auctions.
“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,” he added.
The top-seller was a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline from the estate of noted American collector, the late Mr. John O’Quinn. One of 54 examples offered from the collection at this weekend’s sale, the ‘Whittell Mistress Car’ attracted strong interest on the block, exceeding its pre-sale estimate and selling for an impressive $1,705,000. A second Model J Duesenberg from the collection – a majestic and beautifully restored 1932 Convertible Coupe – realized a final sale price of $825,000.
Other highlights from the O’Quinn Collection included a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” Coupe, finished in graphite grey with red leather interior for $687,500, and a 1935 Auburn 851SC Speedster for $418,000. The unique 1964 Pontiac Bonneville “Hank Williams Jr.” Custom Convertible, built as a promotional vehicle for Hank Williams Jr. by Nudie Cohn, the famed ‘Rodeo Tailor to the Stars,’ attracted spirited bidding to sell for $225,500. An additional 130 examples from the O’Quinn Collection are slated to cross the block later this month at RM’s annual Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale sale, March 26th – 28th.
Beyond the O’Quinn Collection, RM’s Amelia Island top-seller’s list was dominated by a range of historic Ferraris. A striking and multi-award winning Fly Yellow 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, currently featured in Forza Magazine, was another example to well-exceed its pre-sale estimate, selling for $1,650,000, while an alloy-bodied Four-Cam from the same year, finished in Nocciola and offered for the first time in 30 years, brought $1,265,000. Rounding out the million-dollar-plus sales, a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder, certified by Ferrari Classiche and formerly owned by Edsel B. Ford II, achieved $1,017,500.
RM Auctions offered 112 automobiles for sale, with 98 finding a new owner, reflecting an 88% sales rate. Total sales volume was $19,147,550, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $198,383.
2010 Automobiles of Amelia Island Auction Results – RM Auctions
Lot 119 – 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder – Sold for $1,017,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $1,000,000-$1,250,000. Formerly owned by Edsel Ford; shown at 2009 Quail Gathering; complete with a full tool roll and leather pouch, original manuals and documentation, plus its Ferrari Classiche certification.Lot 187 – 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta – Sold for $1,650,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $950,000-$1,200,000. Chassis no. 09337 is multiple national award winner, including 99 points at Cavallino in 2006; shown at 2009 Quail Gathering.Lot 122 – 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Alloy Berlinetta – Sold for $1,265,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $1,350,000-$1,750,000. Chassis no. 09501 is finished in Nocciola with a black interior; alloy 4-cam was Luigi Chinetti\’s show car at the 1967 New York Auto Show; recent total restoration by the present owner, Ferrari authority Wayne Sparling.Lot 182 – 1964 Shelby Cobra USRRC Roadster – Did not sell at high bid of $1,275,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $1,500,000-$1,900,000. CSX 2557; ex-Shelby Team Car; one of six 1964 USRRC cars and one of two with dual side pipes on each side of car; competed in 1964 FIA Bridgehampton race and 1966 SCCA A/Production; currently restored to its original Shelby team appearance in Guardsman Blue with white Le Mans stripes.Lot 186 – 1964 Pontiac Banshee Coupe Concept – Did not sell at high bid of $325,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $400,000-$600,000. Developed by John DeLorean to compete head-on with the Ford Mustang, the Banshee\’s styling influenced several future GM products; GM Project XP-833 is only drivable prototype coupe.
Lot 121 – 1912 Gobron-Brillie 12 CV Skiff Tourer by Rothschild – Sold for $170,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$350,000. Coachwork by Rothschild; Best of Class at Pebble Beach Concours in 2005.
Lot 118 – 1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh Tourer – Sold for $368,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $400,000-$500,000. Coachwork by Crailville, Ltd.; Chassis 23ED has been fully restored over last three years.
Lot 190 – 1948 Healey Westland Roadster – Sold for $159,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $140,000-$180,000.
Lot 212 – 1959 Autobianchi Bianchina 500 Transformable – Sold for $39,600 versus pre-sale estimate of $20,000-$30,000.
Lot 193 – 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupe – Did not sell at high bid of $180,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$350,000. Delivered new to Saudi Prince.
Lot 204 – 1953 Mercedes-Benz 220 Cabriolet A – Sold for $143,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $120,000-$150,000. Recently restored and in as-new condition.
Lot 203 – 1963 Watson ‘Leader Card 500’ Indy Roadster – Did not sell at high bid of $185,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $195,000-$295,000. Ex-Len Sutton ‘Diet Rite Cola Special’; driven by Chuck Stevenson, Bobby Grim, Arnie Knepper, Greg Weld and Don Branson during the 1963 – 1966 USAC seasons; participated in 2007 Amelia Island Concours and 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Lot 199 – 1961 Austin-Healey ‘Sebring Sprite’ Vintage Racing Car – Sold for $44,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$75,000. Extensively rallied in Europe, and Stirling Moss also drove the car in the Monterey Historics; donated by noted car collector and SVRA President Peter McLaughlin, the proceeds will benefit The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation.
Lot 200 – 1958 Tojeiro-Jaguar Sports Racer – Did not sell at high bid of $600,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $750,000-$950,000. Ex-Ecurie Ecosse, Ron Flockhart, Ivor Bueb, Innes Ireland and Tony Maggs; one of four built; first time on market in 17 years.
From the Estate of John O’ Quinn
A lifelong motoring enthusiast, John O’Quinn was regarded as one of the most prolific car collectors in the United States. From 2003 up until his tragic death in October 2009, he built one of the country’s most impressive collections featuring more than 1,000 automobiles. In addition to its incredible diversity, the O’Quinn Collection was noted for featuring one of the world’s largest collections of Duesenbergs with 23 examples in total. Fifty-five automobiles from the collection are slated for the Amelia Island sale.
Lot 159 – 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline by Murphy – Sold for $1,705,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $1,200,000-$1,500,000. Known as the ‘Whittell Mistress Car’, features one-off Murphy-bodied creation for playboy George Whittell, Jr.; Murphy body is all aluminum construction; built entirely without structural woodwork, it derived its strength from the clever use of cast aluminum supports combined with fabricated aluminum reinforcements. Prior to joining the O’Quinn Collection, J287 was part of the Harrah Automobile Collection.
Lot 140 – 1932 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe by Murphy – Sold for $825,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $800,000-$1,000,000. The beautifully restored J340 has received multiple awards over the years and remains in excellent overall condition.
Lot 148 – 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster – Sold for $352,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $300,000-$400,000.
Lot 158 – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe – Sold for $687,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $500,000-$600,000.
Lot 130 – 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB Limousine – Sold for $66,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$80,000.
Lot 132 – 1935 Auburn 851SC Speedster – Sold for $418,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $325,000-$400,000.
Lot 155 – 1964 Pontiac Bonneville Custom Convertible – Sold for $225,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $150,000-$200,000. Customized by Nudie Cohn to promote Hank Williams Jr.; features silver dollars dating from 1922 to 1934, chrome-plated pistols, horseshoes, rifles and more.
Lot 151 – 1933 Cadillac V16 Convertible Phaeton by Fleetwood – Sold for $462,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $450,000-$600,000.
Lot 139 – 1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Pennock – Sold for $220,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $200,000-$250,000.
Lot 172 – 1962 Dual-Ghia L6.4 Coupe – Sold for $126,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $140,000-$180,000. Designed for Dean Martin; retains original paint, interior, chrome and trim.
Lot 169 – 1931 Cadillac V16 Roadster by Fleetwood – Sold for $418,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $350,000-$450,000. Last known example built; ex-Craven Collection.
RM Auctions held its 2010 Automobiles of Amelia Island auction on Saturday, March 13th in Amelia Island, Florida, posting in excess of $19 million in total sales with a strong 88% sell-through rate.
