Most collector-car auction houses already offered absentee bidding options and live streaming auctions as part of regular operations, the safety and travel restrictions posed by COVID-19 spurred the industry to apply creative solutions. Learn more about Mecum, Gooding & Company, Bonhams and more are operating their summer auctions.
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.
Featured in the James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me, the Lotus Espirit is a classic car that was once turned into a submarine. It was a badass-looking wedge-shaped road missile that captured the spirit of the mid 1970s.
The Lamborghini Jalpa revamped the basic Urraco platform, keeping the Silhouette’s two-seat, targa-roof layout. Originally priced at $60,000 in 1980, one sold at RM Sotheby’s Palm Beach online auction for $99,000. With just 410 made and 100 sent to the U.S., it’s not something you normally see at a Cars and Coffee.
A Porsche enthusiast picked up a 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera that has been beautifully preserved at the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction. It only has 41,000-miles, is painted in Guards Red and sold for $137,200. This version of the 911 Carrera was a critical link in the 911’s evolution that contributed to the model’s ongoing success.
Now that the many great automotive-based events at Amelia Island have concluded, we can look at the best of the best. At the auctions, aggregate sales were up this year, reaching $77.4 million. In addition, the 25th anniversary edition of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, held on March 8th, stands as likely the best in the event’s history.
Taking place this year on March 8th, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance draws nearly 250 show vehicles and legions of classic car fans every year. This year’s event will honor Roger Penske, and the featured marque is Lozier. Best of all, since its inception, this event has generated over $3.5 million in support of local and national charities.
Built in Italy and powered by German Mercedes-AMG engines, Paganis have set high benchmarks for bespoke engineering and innovative materials. At RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale last month, a 2018 Huayra Roadster, one of 100 made, sold for just under $2.4M, which was the starting price when new.
The going rate for a Ford GT is about $1.2M-$1.5M, or nearly three times the GT’s original $447,000 MSRP (before options). Barrett-Jackson’s top sale in Scottsdale was $1.485M for a 2017 GT with just 141 miles. A ’17 Ford GT in ’66 Heritage livery was the top sale at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction in October 2019. It sold for $1.54M.
