AMELIA ISLAND, Florida, March 11, 2012
RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Amelia Island
Concours d’Elegance, continued its strong track record in
Northern Florida this weekend, generating more than $23 million
in sales before a packed house at its well-established sale at the
Ritz-Carlton. The 88 percent sell through rate saw 92 of the 106
pre- and post-war motor cars changing hands, with six
automobiles achieving million-dollar-plus results and spirited
bidding leading to the establishment of numerous new auction
records.
Top honors went to a stunning 1929 Cord L-29 Special Coupe by
The Hayes Body Corporation – a stunning, one-off design
statement by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, widely recognized as
the most significant L-29 in existence. An outstanding example of
Classic Era styling, the ‘Hayes Coupe’ garnered strong attention
from bidders in the room and on the phones, selling for an
impressive $2,420,000 to applause from the crowd.
"This year’s Amelia Island weekend was once again a great
success for the RM team with over $23 million in sales and more
accolades for RM Auto Restoration. We’re very pleased with the
results achieved both in the auction room and on the show field,
as well as the strong global interest in the sale - bidders hailed
from 16 countries around the world,” said Rob Myers, Chairman &
Founder, RM Auctions.
Myers added, “The Amelia sale wrapped up a fantastic two weeks
in Florida for RM, including the recent Milhous Collection sale
presented in association with Sotheby’s. Combined, the events
generated more than $61 million in sales, illustrating the
continued strength of the collectibles hobby. We look forward to
building on the strong results at our next sale in Monaco in May.”
In addition to the sale-topping Cord L-29, also hotly contested at
Saturday’s auction was a highly desirable and extremely rare
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible, one of the seven
original Vantage-powered DB5 Convertibles produced. Spurring a
lively bidding war, the DB5 realized an impressive $1,210,000,
smashing the previous record for a DB5 Convertible sold at
auction. A freshly restored 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
also entered the history books, selling for $990,000 - a world
record price for a 300SL Roadster sold at auction.
Continuing RM’s strong track record for Ferrari sales at Amelia,
examples from the Modenese Prancing Horse also performed
well. Headlining the group of nine examples on offer was the
exceptional, ex-Agnelli Family 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe
Speciale, one of just four built, selling for $1,430,000, while a
distinctively sporty 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS “Chairs and Flares”
achieved a record-setting $363,000. Additional notable Ferrari
sales included a superb 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder
for $1,210,000 and a rare, unique covered headlight 1961 Ferrari
250 GT Series II Cabriolet for $770,000.
RM Amelia Island Million-Dollar-Plus Sales:
Lot 132 – 1929 Cord L-29 Special Coupe $2,420,000
Lot 141 – 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale $1,430,000
Lot 152 – 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible $1,210,000
Lot 173 – 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder $1,210,000
Lot 183 – 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta $1,100,000
Lot 178 – 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Superprofile Coupe $1,017,500
Beyond the automobiles and a select series of collectible
motorcycles featured in the RM catalogue, the Amelia sale also
lifted the gavel on one of only three known complete Lalique
Mascot Collections, headlined by the rarest Lalique of all, Le
Renard (The Fox), for $805,000. The offering was rounded out by
a Ferrari 250 GTO Bronze Sculpture which sold for $23,000 and
an Ultimate Bugatti Ride & Drive Experience, presented by the
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Bugatti Automobiles of
The Americas, for $10,350, both benefitting the Spina Bifida
Association of Jacksonville. Also supporting a wonderful cause, a
1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider which achieved $60,500 with
proceeds going to The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc – a
non-profit organization dedicated to reducing crashes, death and
disability on US roads.
RM’s strong sales results were complemented by success on the
show field at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on Sunday
with a number of award-winning entries having passed through RM
Auto Restoration’s doors, cementing the company’s reputation as
the world’s premier restoration facility for vintage automobiles.
Among those receiving accolades were the majestic 1931
Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster, owned by Judge Joseph
Cassini III and Margie Cassini of West Orange, New Jersey which
was judged ‘Best in Class’; and the elegant 1938 Jaguar SS
Graber Coupe, owned by Frank and Milli Ricciardelli of Monmount
Beach, New Jersey, which received a Special Amelia Award.
RM continues its 2012 auction calendar, May 11 – 12 with the
return of its biennial Monaco sale at the Grimaldi Forum. Held
during the same weekend as the Grand Prix Historique de
Monaco, the two-day sale will lift the gavel on an elite,
handpicked selection of blue-chip automobiles, joined by the
acclaimed Saltarelli Collection, one of the world’s most significant
private Ducati Collections.
RM returns to North America, June 8 – 9 with the presentation of
the Dingman Collection 2012, a continuation of the company’s
highly successful 2006 Dingman sale of Ford motor cars and rare,
desirable automotive signs. In the meantime, the excitement
continues in Florida this week as RM’s subsidiary company,
Auctions America by RM, presents the 10th annual Collector
Cars of Fort Lauderdale sale, March 16 – 18 at the Greater Fort
Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center.
Images Peter Singhof www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
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