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The 2019 Amelia Island auctions kicked off Thursday with Bonhams in its traditional time slot and with Russo and Steele joining the action for the first time, including several high-dollar lots, the Hagerty Insider reported as it began its daily coverage of the sales being held around the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Although only 58 percent of the lots offered Thursday were hammered sold (compared with 87 percent a year ago), the average sales price was $161,901, a hefty boost from the $149,919 figure in 2018.
Hagerty said the big story Thursday involved the Don C. Boulton Collection of brass era cars, motorcycles and parts on offer at Bonhams.
“For those into esoteric design and the early days of the automobile, it was an enticing group,” Hagerty Insider reported, adding that a 1914 Simplex 50HP “Speedcar” sold for $885,000, adding that “the mostly strong results for the Bouton cars should dispel the notion that nobody is interested in cars from the brass era. ” Hagerty pointed out that “having such a large selection of vehicles (and hard-to-find parts) from this era attracted enough interested, knowledgeable bidders and collectors to bolster the results.”
Bonhams posted the top two sales of the day, a 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Fleetwood roadster bringing $1,187,500 and a 1968 Repco Brabham-Cosworth BG26 BG26A race car selling for $1,105,000 (prices reported include buyer’s fee).
The top sale at Russo and Steele was for a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” coupe that sold for $990,000. A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina coupe brought $665,500.
Hagerty Insider noted that “things ramp up on Friday” with Gooding & Company (single-day sale) and also RM Sotheby’s (two-day event) beginning their sales and with Russo and Steele continuing.
Amelia Island auctions 2018
2019 results through Thursday
Total sales: $18.8 million
116/199 lots sold, 58 percent sell-through rate
Average sale price: $161,901
2018 results through Thursday
Total sales: $13.2 million
88/101 lots sold, 87 percent sell-through rate
Average sale price: $149,919
Overall top-10 sales
- 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Fleetwood roadster, $1,187,500 (Bonhams)
- 1968 Repco Brabham-Cosworth BT26 BT26A, $1,105,000 (Bonhams)
- 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe, $990,000 (Russo and Steele)
- 1913 Mercer Type 35J Raceabout roadster, $898,000 (Bonhams)
- 1914 Simplex 50HP Speedcar roadster, $885,000 (Bonhams)
- 1904 Peerless Type 8 Style K JM Quinby Co. Runabout, $698,000 (Bonhams)
- 1960 Ferrari 250 GT coupe, $665,500 (Russo and Steele)
- 1998 Ruf 911 Turbo R coupe, $626,500 (Bonhams)
- 1904 Thomas Model 22 3-cylinder tonneau, $489,000 (Bonhams)
- 1929 Bentley 4 1/2-liter sport tourer Vanden Plas roadster, $472,500 (Bonhams)
Results by auction company
Bonhams
2019 results
Total sales: $15.4 million
89/108 lots sold, 82 percent sell-through rate
Average sale price: $173,468
- 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Fleetwood roadster, $1,187,500
- 1968 Repco Brabham-Cosworth BT26 BT26A, $1,105,000
- 1913 Mercer Type 35J Raceabout roadster, $898,000
- 1914 Simplex 50HP Speedcar roadster, $885,000
- 1904 Peerless Type 8 Style K JM Quinby Co. Runabout, $698,000
- 1998 Ruf 911 Turbo R coupe, $626,500
- 1904 Thomas Model 22 3-cylinder tonneau, $489,000
- 1929 Bentley 4 1/2-liter sport tourer Vanden Plas roadster, $472,500
- 1908 Welch Model 4-L 50HP touring, $456,000
- 1907 Tincher Model H 60HP touring, $423,000
2018 results
Total sales: $13.2 million
88/101 lots sold, 87 percent sell-through rate
Average sale price: $149,919
Russo and Steele
Total sales: $3.3 million
27/91 lots sold, 30 percent sell-through rate
Average sale price: $123,774
- 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe, $990,000
- 1960 Ferrari 250 GT coupe, $665,500
- 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, $231,000
- 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster, $181,500
- 2012 Ferrari 458 race car, $134,750
- 1997 Porsche 911 Andial coupe, $129,250
- 2017 Mercede-Benz G550, $126,500
- 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT coupe, $115,500
- 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C roadster, $104,500
- 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, $91,300
2018 results
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