“Our Amelia Island sale is a perennial favorite on the global collector car calendar and interest in our 2017
sale has been extraordinary,” says Gord Duff, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s. “When you look at what our
team has secured thus far in terms of early entries—highlights such as the one-of-three Bugatti Type 57S
Cabriolet by Vanvooren, and now, this incredible Ferrari 250 GT SWB along with the collection of Orin
Smith—it is shaping up to be the biggest auction ever held during the concours weekend. And, there’s still
plenty more to come.”
Maranello’s Finest Dual-Purpose Grand Tourer
RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction has been witness to the sale of some of the world’s most important
Ferraris over the years. The tradition will continue in 2017 with early highlights led by the 1961 Ferrari 250
GT SWB Berlinetta, chassis no. 2639GT.
An outstanding example of one of Ferrari’s most beloved berlinettas, 2639 GT was completed by the Factory
in 1961, outfitted as a luxury street version with several competition-style features including a steel body with
aluminum hood and deck lid, as well as roll-up windows. Sold new to Marion Dall’Orso of Genoa, Italy, it was
soon thereafter exported to the United States, where it spent much of its early life in California and Texas,
before returning to Europe in the 1980s. It was eventually acquired by its current owner in 2011, who promptly
commissioned the renowned Ferrari specialists at Motion Products of Neenah, Wisconsin, to conduct a
comprehensive restoration. Beautifully presented, the quality of the restoration has earned 2639 GT numerous
accolades, including Best of Show at Concorso Italiano, as well as Platinum Awards at the Ferrari Club of
America International and the Cavallino Classic. Highly eligible and complete with the all-important Ferrari
Classiche Red Book certification, 2639GT is expected to command in excess of $9.5 million when it takes
center stage at RM’s Ritz-Carlton sale in March. Ahead of the Amelia Island auction, the car will be on
preview at the 26th annual Cavallino Classic, January 25-29 in Palm Beach Florida.
“It is easy to see why the SWB tops many enthusiast’s lists; a true dual-purpose car, it combines
sensational looks with incredible driving dynamics, and its versatility means you could race it at Laguna
Seca, take on the roads of the Colorado Grand and everything in between,” says Gord Duff, Car Specialist,
RM Sotheby’s. “From its various unique features to the incredible quality of its restoration—– confirmed by a
string of awards—– 2639 GT is a car worthy of close inspection. The fact that it is eligible for virtually every
important motoring event on the planet and will outperform nearly everything in its class, makes it all the more
attractive.”
‘A Gentleman’s Collection: The Pride and Passion of Orin Smith’
In addition to the SWB, RM’s 2017 Amelia Island docket is further bolstered by ‘A Gentleman’s Collection:
The Pride and Passion of Orin Smith’, a meticulously presented 58-car collection, which will be offered March
10 as a prelude to RM’s traditional Amelia Island sale.
Well-known and highly respected on the international show circuit, Orin Smith was a consummate enthusiast
and active concours competitor with a keen eye for detail. His collection—the result of two decades of
meticulous curation—represents, at its core, one of the world’s finest groups of coachbuilt Rolls-Royces and
Bentleys. In total, 22 vehicles from the two marques will be featured at the March 10 sale. For those with a
predilection for Rolls-Royce, highlights include an authentic 1929 Phantom I Henley Roadster by Brewster,
one of only two Henley prototypes built on the Phantom I chassis; an award-winning 1948 Silver Wraith
Cabriolet by Franay, complete with streamlined one-off coachwork for French cabaret star “La Môme
Moineau”; and the world’s most famous PII Continental, the ex-Raymond Gentile 1934 Phantom II
Continental Drophead Sedanca Coupe by Gurney Nutting. For Bentley enthusiasts, the collection
contains a show-stopping 1947 Mark VI Cabriolet, one of two bodied by Franay and featuring one-off
coachwork commissioned by its original owner, A.J. Liechti; along with a beautifully restored, factory
left-hand-drive 1952 R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner, formerly of the Bud Lyon
Collection and complete with factory 4.9 engine upgrade.
Beyond its concentration on Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars, the Gentleman’s Collection has a
secondary focus on sports and performance vehicles, including powerful examples from the likes of Allard,
Jaguar, Lancia, Mercedes-Benz and more. In the market for an Aston Martin? The collection covers everything
from prewar to modern models, including a 1966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante, the first such
example built. Then there is unique, jet-age design, showcased by such striking examples as the 1953
Lancia Aurelia PF200 Cabriolet, a unique Pinin Farina concept on the rare Aurelia B52 chassis, displayed
at the 1953 Geneva and Turin motor shows; and, an exquisite 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia, originally
delivered to powerboat racer Lou Fageol.
“I had the great pleasure of knowing Orin Smith and found him to be a true gentleman in every sense of the
word,” shares Don Rose, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s. “In addition to his impressive gathering of some of the
finest Rolls-Royce and Bentley automobiles, Orin displayed an eclectic taste with a keen eye for other icons
of style, including sporting machinery from prewar to the best of the contemporary. The common thread here
is beauty, in both design and engineering; fitting for a man of generous spirit devoted to excellence. Because
of those qualities, Orin Smith was beloved to the Amelia Island crowd, which makes the offering of his
collection at our Amelia Island venue all the more poignant.”
Additional details on ‘A Gentleman’s Collection: The Pride and Passion of Orin Smith’, including a full car list,
will be available in early 2017.
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