Now that they’ve had time to tally post-block transactions, the three auction companies doing sales this past week on Amelia Island, Florida, report total sales of $78,585,000, slightly more than earlier reported.
Preliminary reports from Hagerty observers at the sales reported sales of $77.4 million.
“Despite widespread market concerns heading into the sale week, our results alongside those of our competitors prove that best-of-category, top-quality motor cars of all eras continue to draw interest and confidence from collectors, and that participation in the collector car market remains healthy,” Gord Duff, global head of auctions, was quoted in RM Sotheby’s post-sale news release.
“We saw high energy in the auction room and great response to our auctioneer, Mike Shackelton, translating to strong prices for our most valuable offerings as well as for some truly unique lots. We look forward to continuing the momentum at our Palm Beach sale in a couple of weeks.”
“Amelia Island was once again a strong day of sales,” noted David Gooding, founder of Gooding & Company. “These results have vaulted us into an already very successful year so far and provides positive momentum heading into our first sale outside of the US in April.”
Gooding & Company’s first venture outside the United States is a collector car auction scheduled for April 1 in England.
Noting that the Bonhams docket included cars from six estate collections, Rupert Banner, vice president of Bonhams’ motoring department, pointed to fresh-to-market vehicles and conservative pre-sale expectations for bringing interest in the Amelia Island sales from around the globe.
He also noted that the docket for Bonhams’ upcoming sale in Greenwich, Connecticut, includes a 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder that will be offered for sale for the first time in more than 45 years.
