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14/02/2012
RM Auctions at Amelia Island, 10 March 2012: Preview
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Speciale: $1,300,000 - 1,600,000

RM’s Rob Myers is “Thrilled to be returning to Amelia Island,” and the company’s Chairman and Founder has much to be excited about in its 118-lot, quality catalogue for the 2012 Florida sale.

Inevitably, one starts a big US sale preview with a look at the Ferraris on offer. This year at the Ritz-Carlton, these are highlighted not only by two wonderful 250 GTs, but also include an original, factory-built 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’ Spider ($1,100,000 - 1,300,000) and a similarly estimated ($1,200,000 - 1,400,000) 1967 275 GTB/4, a matching numbers example in red with tan hide.

The two 250 GTs almost span the life of the model, and conveniently book-end Ferrari history from maker of one-off specials for motor shows and the world’s richest, to serving the merely ‘very well off indeed’, those looking for the most powerful and stylish production-series European sports cars.

1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet: $600,000 - 800,000 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé: $225,000 - 300,000

In the latter category lies the wonderful Avorio 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet ($600,000 - 800,000), while collectors searching out only the rarest (one of only four examples produced), will appreciate the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Speciale. A past concours-winner, the car originally delivered to a member of the Agnelli family looks fabulous in its original-spec, Cassa Blu Genziana paintwork. Estimate: $1,300,000 - 1,600,000.

It takes a special Aston Martin to live in this company, but the ‘On Request’, 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible – a matching numbers, triple-Weber-equipped Vantage, professionally converted from right- to left-hand drive – should be up to the task. It’s the only Aston in the sale. Nor are there cars from Maserati, Lancia or Lamborghini, by the way.

1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet: $250,000 - 300,000

Of the other European Grandes Marques, we’ll come to the fantastic 300SLs in a minute, but first the Jaguars.

Pick of the bunch has to be the alloy-bodied 1950 XK120 Alloy ($290,000 - 360,000), but there’s also a steel 1954 XK120 SE Roadster ($175,000 - 230,000) and a $90,000 - 105,000, 1964 E-type Series I FHC for the man of more modest means.

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet: $140,000 - 180,000 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4: $1,200,000 - 1,400,000

Now for something really special. There are two Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadsters in the catalogue. The 1957 example ($700,000 - 800,000) is a silver/black leather car with low mileage. Very nice. But with hardtop, Rudge wheels and tool-roll, the DB40 Black (with code 1078 Green leather interior) 300SL Roadster is simply stunning. RM sold a BMW 507 in a similar colour combination in Arizona for $990,000 - this Mercedes is estimated at $850,000 - 1,100,000 and it should go all the way.

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster: $850,000 - 1,100,000

There’s also a 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupé finished in a discreet grey with coachwork by LeBaron. Carrying an estimate of $475,000 - 650,000, it’s one of just eight Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupés in existence and has won not only its class at the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, but also the Primary Production Class at the 2000 CCCA Annual Meeting (with a 100-point score).

1928 Avions-Voisin KE Sport Roadster: $400,000 - 500,000 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria by Dietrich, INC.: 'On Request'

The rarefied lawns of the Amelia Island concours are a world away from the Arizonan desert and the January-week sales frenzy. As a result, entries to Amelia Island auctions tend to include a greater number of top-dollar, ‘Pebble Quality’ entries. Cars from the great inter-war years, such as the 'On Request' 1929 Cord L-29 Special Coupé and 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria, or the 1933 Lincoln Model KB Convertible Sedan ($275,000 - 375,000).

And from Europe come such exotics as the 1928 Avions-Voisin KE Sport Roadster ($400,000 - 500,000), the rare and delicately proportioned 1937 Squire 1½-Litre Drophead Coupé ('On Request') and the futuristic 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Superprofile Coupé ($1,250,000 - 1,750,000).

1930 Bugatti Type 46 Superprofile Coupé: $1,250,000 - 1,750,000 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider: $1,100,000 - 1,300,000

Finally, picking a couple of off-the-wall, ‘I really like these’ entries, how about either the 1958 DKW Universal Kombi Wagon ($50,000 - 70,000, perfect for cactus-collecting Terry-Thomas-style) or the $35,000 - 45,000, 1962 Ford Galaxie '427', built as a ‘tribute’ to the famous Holman-Moody-run cars of the time. Buy it, bring it over to Europe, and no one would be the wiser.

1958 DKW Universal Kombi Wagon: $50,000 - 70,000 1963 Porsche 356B 1600S Cabriolet: $100,000 - 140,000

Please click HERE to see a full lotlist.

1941 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead: $30,000 - 40,000

To see all the entries to the 10 March 2012, RM Auctions at Amelia Island sale in the Classic Driver Marketplace please CLICK HERE.

ADMISSION:
An official auction catalogue is available for $120 US and admits two people to the preview and auction.

AUCTION LOCATION:
The Ritz-Carlton
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
Amelia Island,
Florida 32034, USA

AUCTION:
10 March 2012
11:00 AM EST (Auction will run approx. 5-6 hours)

PREVIEW DATES:
8 March 2012, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST
9 March 2012, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST
10 March 2012, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM EST

RM Auctions
One Classic Car Drive
Blenheim
Ontario N0P 1A0
Canada

Telephone: +1 519 352 45 75
Fax: +1 519 351 13 37


Website: www.rmauctions.com

Email: ask@rmauctions.com.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: RM Auctions
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