Top 20 lots at Amelia Island 2021

Big-money beauties

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida is one of the glitziest dates on the world’s classic car calendar and so, unsurprisingly, the cars sold at the event’s auctions are of the finest quality, too.

For 2021, Amelia Island is hosting big sales from two industry heavyweights: Bonhams on 20 May and RM Sotheby’s on 22 May.

Let’s enjoy an escape into dreamland and check out the 20 lots predicted to make the most this week in Florida. And because this sale is in the US, all prices are in dollars.

1. 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500/540K Spezial Roadster (est: $4.5-5m)

Let’s start at the top and at number one, and by quite a margin according to the pre-sale estimates: it is this magnificent three-pointed star.

Although it left the Mercedes-Benz factory a 500K, two years later, in 1936, paperwork proves it went back to Sindelfingen to be upgraded with the latest 540K engine, this replacement engine stamped with the number of the engine it replaced, and the unit retains factory engine plaque 105136.

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500/540K Spezial Roadster (cont.)

The car was last restored in the early 1990s and it is said to be in ‘tidy order’, although it is not finished in the ‘Speedgray’ with light and dark green accents colour scheme it wore when new.

Interestingly, it is thought that the design of this Spezial Roadster is unique. It was commissioned for its first owner, lawyer Dr Alfons Sack of Berlin – who also returned it for its upgrade – and details including its extended grille that curves outwards at the bottom, extra chrome detailing on its front and rear wings, and chrome covers for the rear-mounted spare wheels all mean that this very dashing design could be a one-off.

2. 1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo (est: $3.5-4m)

We’re going back five more years with our second lot that is returning to Amelia Island following a class win at last year’s concours d’elegance, which speaks volumes about the quality of this classic.

Californian coachbuilder Walter M Murphy built around 25 ‘Disappearing Top’ models on the Duesenberg Model J, but rarer still is the ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo which is what we have here, this marked out by its tapered tail.

Six were built, five short- and one long-wheelbase, and this car might have been the very first.

1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo (cont.)

It was delivered new with bare aluminium coachwork and a one-off tail – only the bumpers and valances were painted in a deep blue.

Its first keeper was David Gray of Santa Barbara in California, its second owner, Los Angeles resident William McDuffie, acquiring it in 1933. The car later appeared in the 1937 film She Had to Eat.

Much more recently, a restoration was commissioned in 2015 and upon completion of this it claimed a second-in-class trophy at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, before winning its class at Amelia Island in 2020.

3. 1995 Ferrari F50 (est: $3.4-3.75m)

Although the rankings could all change once the cars have gone under the hammer, for now the top Ferrari at the Amelia Island auctions 2021 is this US-spec F50 with RM Sotheby’s.

It’s the 48th F50 and its first owner was American-Italian collector Benny Caiola, who was apparently a close friend of Horacio Pagani.

The car remained in Caiola’s collection until his passing in 2010 – when it was sold the following year it had done around 4000 miles.

1995 Ferrari F50 (cont.)

The car was then in a collection in Texas, and come June 2018 at 5100 miles, it received substantial engine-out maintenance.

It goes to auction with its original owner’s manuals, service invoices, a toolkit, two pieces of luggage, and photos documenting its 2018 service.

4. 1968 Ferrari 275GTB/4 (est: $2.5-2.8m)

Our second Prancing Horse is the distinctively coloured car we opened this gallery with, a Scaglietti-bodied 1968 Ferrari 275GTB/4.

It’s spent almost half a century with one keeper, Allan Pray of Minnesota, who took ownership in 1973 and kept it until his passing in 2016, since when it was been held in trust by the executors of his estate.

In 2019 it went for a comprehensive mechanical restoration, during which time it was ascertained that it still has its original V12 engine and five-speed manual gearbox.

1968 Ferrari 275GTB/4 (cont.)

And that colour? The Ferrari started life, when it was completed on Valentine’s Day in 1968, finished in Celeste, a rich pale blue, with a Nero interior.

It was sold new to Rome but by the early ’70s it was in Michigan finished in a colour resembling the rare period shade of Nocciola.

Pray bought it in 1973 and at some point had the car repainted Rosso Corsa, then when it was restored by a marque specialist in Texas in 1996 it received this pale-yellow hue, called Giallo Solare.

Now fully restored, this car has seldom been seen in public but will definitely turn heads in Florida this week.

5. 1971 Ferrari 365GTS/4 ‘Daytona’ Spider (est: $2.25-2.75m)

Apologies if you’re not a Ferrari fan! Yes, this is the third on the trot and it is another yellow example that’s predicted to achieve the fifth-highest hammer price at the Amelia Island sales when it crosses the block with RM Sotheby’s on Saturday.

And it is a pretty special car. It was the 1972 New York show car and soon after that appearance it was sold to California-based marque enthusiast Alfredo Ducato, who was a friend of none other than Enzo Ferrari.

Indeed, Ducato kept the car until his death in 1987.

1971 Ferrari 365GTS/4 ‘Daytona’ Spider (cont.)

Today this car shows fewer than 13,500 miles and is still finished in its original Giallo Fly paintwork with a Pelle Nera interior, and it retains its matching-numbers chassis, gearbox and engine.

It has been with its current custodian since 2008, it has Classiche Certification and it has been a Platinum Winner at the prestigious Cavallino Classic.

6. 1992 Ferrari F40 (est: $1.8-2.2m)

What a surprise – another Ferrari. And this 3304-mile F40 is also a matching-numbers car with Classiche Certification.

It is a US market model and one of the last built, delivered new to Ferrari of Houston, Texas, in April 1992.

1992 Ferrari F40 (cont.)

The car has since been kept in Utah and Florida. It was displayed at the 2004 edition of the Cavallino Classic before returning in 2010 when it was recognised with a Platinum Award in the Supercar Class.

It was last serviced in November at Ferrari of Long Island, New York, since when it has done fewer than 40 miles, and a flick through the accompanying paperwork shows it has been well cared for right across its 29 years.

7. 1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Open Drive Landaulette (est: $1.3-1.5m)

With the car that is expected to have the seventh-highest selling price at this week’s Amelia Island sales we can briefly move on from Ferrari and move back in time with this magnificent-looking Rolls-Royce.

Barker-bodied and with six owners from new, it is the oldest-surviving example of those delivered new to Canada, and it is thought to be one of 21 survivors from the ‘single digit’ years of Silver Ghost production.

It still has its original body and is the third-oldest example that can claim that.

1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Open Drive Landaulette (cont.)

It appears to be the second Silver Ghost to arrive in Canada and from circa 1952 it spent around four decades on display at the Pennsylvania State Museum.

During the last quarter of a century, it has been more active and well-cared for, too, TLC it has received including a new Landaulette top.

8. 1961 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet Series II (est: $1.2-1.4m)

That was indeed just a brief break from Ferraris, but such is the way with high-end classic car auctions and at number eight in our list is this, the 127th of 200 Series II 250GT Cabriolets built.

Its Pininfarina lines are still dressed in the same Grigio Conchiglia in which it left the factory, with Pelle Blu inside and a matching soft-top, plus its hardtop.

As you might expect, this car has Ferrari Classiche Certification, and has its matching-numbers gearbox, engine and rear differential.

1961 Ferrari 250GT Cabriolet Series II (cont.)

This car was sold new to Rome and its second owner, from 1965, was in Italy, too, but by ’73 it had crossed the Atlantic and was in California, where it stayed for at least 13 years.

It returned to Europe, first to Switzerland, then Belgium, then The Netherlands and back to Italy, before returning to California in 2013, at which point it was the subject of an extensive restoration during which it was returned to the factory-correct colours it is in today (it had been repainted red and the cabin retrimmed beige earlier in its life).

9. 1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K ‘La Baule’ Torpedo Transformable (est: $1.1-1.25m)

This Mercedes’ elegant Jacques Saoutchik coachwork features his disappearing top and stowable rear windscreen, his ‘La Baule’ Torpedo Transformable introduced in 1928 and named after the town in north-west France that at the time was well-known for concours contests.

Here it is teamed with the mighty supercharged 630K, the 6.3-litre six-cylinder engine a work of art that meant this was the fastest production touring car in the world when new – just 267 630K chassis were built and very few received this bodywork.

1928 Mercedes-Benz 630K ‘La Baule’ Torpedo Transformable (cont.)

Like a previous lot we’ve looked at, this classic has been on the silver screen, in 1943 film Above Suspicion, this appearance coming about because it was on the fleet of Pacific Auto Rentals which supplied cars to Hollywood.

Its present condition is the result of a restoration carried out, it is believed, in the 1980s, and Bonhams says any potential bidder should note that it is being sold without its convertible top mechanism.

=10. 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Three-Position Roadster (est: $1-1.5m)

Wearing a unique body crafted by British firm Windovers, with a sweeping, gently tapered tail and voluptuous curved running boards, this car is one of two to have similar bodies fitted to 500Ks by the London-based coachbuilder.

It was ordered new by William Henry Rhodes-Moorhouse, a member of the British ski-jumping team for the 1936 Winter Olympics and, come WW2, an RAF ace who, sadly, was killed in action during the Battle of Britain.

But before that, he enjoyed time in his dramatically styled Mercedes-Benz.

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Three-Position Roadster (cont.)

Indeed, by the time war came, this three-pointed star had a new owner who laid the car up for the duration, and in November 1949 it went to its third owner.

In more recent times, after being taken to Austria and repainted, this Mercedes returned to the UK from 2006 and was restored, since when it has been shown at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island and Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands.

=10. 1913 Mercer Type 35K Runabout (est: $1-1.5m)

Also carrying a $1-1.5m pre-sale estimate ahead of this week’s Amelia Island sales, but this time crossing the block with Bonhams, is this serious slice of American automotive history.

Mercer’s most famous Type 35 was the Raceabout, and this, the Runabout, is essentially that but with doors, a roof, a full windscreen and a slightly raised steering column.

The similarities between the much-loved Raceabout and the Runabout meant many of the latter were rebodied to look like the former, making this a special survivor and the sole 1913 Type 35 known to still have its original coachwork.

1913 Mercer Type 35K Runabout (cont.)

A specialist at vendor Bonhams has been able to drive the Runabout and reported that it was ‘a swift and exciting machine, winding up to speed with ease and cornering with gusto’.

Well, back in 2005 it won its class at the Newport Hill Climb in Indiana.

As an example that has been owned by marque specialists and enthusiasts and maintained in fine, usable condition, let’s hope this week’s winning bidder enjoys it on the open road.

=12. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder (est: $1-1.25m)

No, it’s not a classic – well, not yet, anyway. But it is in RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2021 catalogue.

This limited-production, mid-engined, plug-in hybrid Porsche sports car is one of 918 built, and is powered by a 4.6-litre naturally aspirated V8 as well as a pair of electric motors.

All of which means a sub-2.5-sec 0-60mph time.

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder (cont.)

This example has covered fewer than 2620 miles, it is finished in Meteor Grey Metallic, it has a Garnet red leather interior with silver piping and among its extras are an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, heated lightweight seats and 21-inch lightweight magnesium wheels. When new it cost almost $900,000.

In its short life it has been maintained as per its manufacturer’s recommendations.

=12. 1933 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton (est: $1.1.25m)

Our second Duesenberg Model J is this short-wheelbase example that was sold new with engine number J-334 and a Murphy Convertible Sedan body to JH Brewer, who had residences in Michigan and New York City. This gentleman also owned another Model J, a Rollston Town Car with engine number J-281, and at some point that car’s engine was transplanted into this, his Murphy Convertible Sedan, and remains with it today.

After passing through several owners in Michigan, Russell Strauch of Ohio bought the Murphy Convertible Sedan. Strauch also had a Duesenberg, J-482/2498, with the LaGrande ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton coachwork, but it had been driven a lot and was in a poor condition, so he swapped the bodies on his two cars, and then each was restored with its ‘new’ body.

All of which means this combination of Dusenbergs could make this example a one-off.

1933 Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton (cont.)

More recently, it won its class at the 2007 Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance, was shown at Pebble Beach the following year and again was a class-winner, this time at the Louisville Concours d’Elegance in 2012.

Today it appears to be in fine condition – it comes to auction after more than a decade in a collection.

14. 1960 Chevrolet Corvette LM (est: $900,000-1.3m)

If you fancy a classic car restoration project that, as a bonus, will bring a piece of motor-racing history back to life, look no further than his, lot 170 in the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale.

This is one of three Chevrolet Corvette C1s entered by Briggs Cunningham in the 1960 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it wore the number one and was driven by Cunningham and Bill Kimberly.

Cunningham took the start and after a few hours, during heavy rain, it was time for a driver change. Kimberly jumped into the now heavily fuelled ’Vette, and towards the end of his first lap he crested the hill after Arnage and was met by a wall of rain so lifted off then lost control at Maison Blanche, the car spinning and flipping twice before catching fire. Luckily, Kimberly escaped and was fine, but after 32 laps the Chevvy was rather less so. However its sister car, number three, achieved an eighth-place finish.

1960 Chevrolet Corvette LM (cont.)

After Le Mans, the battered remains of this car were taken back Stateside and it was sold to a friend of Cunningham’s, SCCA racer Marshall ‘Perry’ Boswell Jnr, who transformed it into a sleek roadster, before selling it around 1966.

It passed through several more owners and then the trail went dead until, in 2011, a mystery classic was being sold following its then-owner’s death. It transpired that it was the number one team car from Cunningham’s 1960 Le Mans entry.

Cars two and three have been restored to their former glory, is now the time this also receives a careful revival?

15. 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra (est: $850-950,000)

First used as a demonstrator at Shelby American from September 1964 until January ’65, this car, chassis CSX 2647, was originally bright blue over red and is one of the few Shelby Cobras ordered for exhibition and demonstration.

In 1965 it was sold and went through a series of owners in the US, before being bought by a collector and exported to Switzerland in 1995. Two years later, it returned to America.

1965 Shelby 289 Cobra (cont.)

This car has been the subject of a thorough restoration carried out by the California-based specialist Mike McCluskey and all the work was documented, this included in the sale.

The auction house describes it as ‘eminently presentable’ and notes period-correct details such as its lap belts, AC steering wheel and Stewart Warner gauges.

Since this work it has hardly been driven, meaning today it is ready to be enjoyed.

=16. 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet (est: $800,000-1m)

Coming to Bonhams’ Amelia Island auction from the same collection as the Duesenberg Model J ‘Sweep Panel’ Dual-Cowl Phaeton and the Mercer Runabout we looked at earlier is this Type 57 Bugatti, the only one with coachwork by Franay.

What’s more, it was delivered new to German film star Hella Hartwich and was once in the collection of the French filmmaker Jean Rouch.

If you’re not a film buff, its 2012-2015 restoration that’s documented in photos, paperwork and DVDs and cost close to $650,000, might grab your attention.

1934 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet (cont.)

This work returned the Type 57 to its original spec with one exception – Rouch had added a rumble seat that has been retained. It also has its original transmission and engine.

Still, this dark-blue beauty was crowned Best of Show at the July 2016 Keeneland Concours d’Elegance in Lexington, Kentucky, and has not been used much since.

=16. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (est: $800,000-1m)

With the same pre-sale estimate as that Bugatti is this striking, red three-pointed star.

It has been with its current custodian since 2003 who bought it from the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California.

Much of this 300SL Roadster’s early history has been lost to time, but it is known it rolled out the factory wearing blue-grey paint and it was shipped to the US when new.

1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (cont.)

As you can see, it is being sold with matching luggage, as well as its owner’s manual and tool roll.

It is said to present well following a restoration in the 1990s and while its rich, red paint isn’t original, it is at least a period-correct colour.

18. 1935 Godsal Sports Tourer (est: $750-950,000)

From a model we bet you’re pretty familiar with to one you could be forgiven for not knowing, for the simple reason it is the only one.

The work of British engineer Charles Godsal, it has Lancia-inspired sliding-pillar front suspension, a Bentley rear-axle, a Ford V8 engine and a sleek body by Corsica.

It seems to tick so many boxes, but then WW2 came along and Godsal’s talents were put to producing aircraft, his sole automotive creation sold.

1935 Godsal Sports Tourer (cont.)

Painted red and white, and somewhat modified, it appeared in the 1969 film Mosquito Squadron, as detailed in From the cockpit in the March 2021 issue of Classic & Sports Car.

Its current owner bought it in 2017 and entrusted Evan Ide and his team – who also called on Chasing Classic Cars star Wayne Carini – to restore the Godsal. Their work was rewarded because it won its class at the 2020 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance – and now it is back, this time going under the hammer.

19. 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 (est: $750-850,000)

This lot might also be rare, but it also has a much more familiar shape. A one-of-49 964-generation Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8, it was finished in Speed Yellow when new and had the RSR 3.8 pack, bringing a five-speed gearbox, a limited-slip differential, a Turbo-look body, a 43-litre fuel tank, Pirelli tyres, a racing seat and 18-inch RS Cup racing wheels, and these cars also came with unassisted steering.

Its first owner, Otto Altenbach at Obermaier Racing in Leverkusen, Germany, then raced it five times in the ADAC GT Cup series.

1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 (cont.)

It is thought it went to Japan before returning to its homeland and undergoing a restoration that included a bare-metal respray, rebuilding the brakes and suspension, servicing the engine and more.

It now has 14,783km – that’s fewer than 10,000 miles – under its wheels, and although it has had two owners since being restored, it has been little used.

20. 1912 Stutz Bearcat (est: $650-850,000)

Last but by no means least is the car predicted to achieve the 20th-highest price at this week’s Amelia Island sales – and it is the oldest-surviving from the now-defunct, Indianapolis-based manufacturer Stutz.

It also comes from the collection of Mary and Clem Lange, like several other cars consigned to Bonhams’ sale and in this top 20, the couple taking ownership in 2009.

This was just after an exhaustive restoration which retained as many of the car’s authentic and apparently unique features as possible, which was completed in 2008.

1912 Stutz Bearcat (cont.)

It has been to a number of concours events. Indeed at Amelia Island in 2012 it was awarded the Chubb Trophy for Most Historically Significant Stutz, then at Keels & Wheels in 2013 it achieved Best of Show.

A serious feather in this car’s cap is that it was invited to appear at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 100th-anniversary Celebration of Automobiles in 2011.

It will now go under the hammer with Bonhams in Florida on 20 May 2021, and you can check out the rest of the lots in this sale here. Then on 22 May 2021 it’s the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction, full details of which are here.