Would you recognize this car as a Lamborghini? It’s the Islero, and it’s rare with just 225 made for 1968-1969. Named for the bull that killed one of Spain’s most famous bullfighters, the Islero packed the punch of a six-carburetor V-12 that could take it to 150 mph. The Islero’s modernistic look presaged the angular style would define exotic car design in the Seventies. Gooding & Company will offer this restored black 1968 Lamborghini Islero at its Amelia Island auction, where it is estimated to sell for up to $500,000.
The 2023 collector car auction season got off to a roaring start in January. The Bonhams Scottsdale auction reached $30M in sales, and RM Sotheby’s reported $44M. The big surprise came from Bonhams, where a 1912 Simplex brought $4.8M, a record for a pre-WWI car. Supercars were still supreme, though, with a Ferrari LaFerrari getting $4.075M at RM Sotheby’s and, earlier in the month, a Ferrari F40 topping the Mecum sale in Kissimmee, Florida at $3.135M.
Auction sales from Monterey Car Week totaled a record-setting $469 million; more than $126 million than last year’s total. RM Sotheby’s three-night auction accounted for more than half of that total, setting a record with a staggering $239.2 million in sales. Catch up on results from all the auction houses.
Monterey Car Week 2022, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance®, is just days away, and our regional sales managers have made their annual “Cars to Watch” selections, covering a broad range of classic vehicles. Their picks include a 1995 Ferrari F50 (pre-sale estimate of $4.5 – $5.5 Million); a 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 3.8 ($250K – $300K); and even a 1962 Volkswagen Type 2 Deluxe Microbus ($140K – $180K). Perhaps some of your favorites are among their picks.
Here are our “Cars to Watch” for the Gooding & Co. auction at Amelia Island, which features a rare 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C_SS “Teardrop” Coupe, which has a pre-sale estimate of $10 million. This auction promises to be comfortable, casual, fun, and yet classy.
“The Amelia” may have dropped “Island” from its name, but this year’s event will be special, now under the Hagerty umbrella of automotive assets. Read our detailed description of what’s scheduled, whether you’re attending in person or virtually.
Met Dave Magers: CEO of Mecum Auctions. Dave has served as chief executive officer of Mecum Auctions since 2013. Having always been a “car guy,” Dave brings a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience into the Mecum mix with more than 40 years of experience in the business and financial sector.
Over the coming months, auction houses are hosting both online and live auctions. This includes Mecum, RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company, and Bonhams. The schedule is outlined here, with events in July and August.
At the Amelia Island Concours auctions this month, Bonhams has a 1971 model Mercedes-Benz 280SL up for grabs, with an older restoration and a pre-sale estimate of $90k-$110k.
