The RM Auctions Amelia Island 2014 auction will be held Saturday, March 8th on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Amelia Island, Florida. RM Auctions has gathered more than 90 automobiles for the single-day auction, which will again act as a prelude to this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
A total of nine automobiles offered at the 16th annual RM Auctions Amelia Island sale are estimated to sell for $1,000,000 or more, headlined by the 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi offered from the Malcolm Pray Collection.
Chassis 48667 is one of just two surviving 135 Competition Court Roadsters bodied by the Parisian firm and the only surviving example with its Geo Ham body tag. The Delahaye comes out of long-term ownership by Mr. Pray, who purchased the car in 1964 and retained, showed and rallied it for nearly half a century.
In total, the 2014 RM Amelia auction will see 16 motor cars from the collection of the late Malcolm S. Pray Jr. on offer. Representing both American and European marques, the sale will benefit The Pray Achievement Center, an organization that Mr. Pray founded to mentor and motivate young people to achieve their life goals.
Additional highlights of the Pray Collection include:
- 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster, chassis 70156, owned by Malcolm since 1972 and featuring a factory hardtop, a Becker Mexico radio and rare Rudge wheels (Est. $1,400,000 – $1,800,000);
- 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet, chassis 2093 GT, which has been a part of the collection since 1969 and is complete with its original engine and factory hardtop (Est. $1,500,000 – $1,800,000);
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster, chassis 57617, complete with its original late-specification type 57 chassis, engine, and supercharger (Est. $750,000 – $900,000);
- 1934 Auburn Twelve Salon Speedster, chassis 1122E, (Est. $275,000 – $350,000); and
- 1941 Packard Super Eight 180 Convertible Victoria by Darrin, benefiting from recent maintenance, it is a CCCA Senior award winner and was formerly part of the Tom Mix Collection (Est. $250,000 – $325,000).
Coachbuilt classics always play a big role at RM’s Amelia Island Concours events, and this year is no different, headlined by the 1934 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Sedan. Chassis J-494 is the only SJ chassis to have carried this LeBaron coachwork. Complete with its original engine, body, and chassis, the Duesenberg has known history from new, including former ownership by Edith Ludwig and Edmund C. Lynch Jr. (Estimate: $1,500,000 – $1,750,000).
Additional coachbuilt classics include:
- 1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich, chassis 900104, offered from the collection of Bob and Sandra Bahre, it features its original Dietrich Individual Custom bodywork and is available for sale for the first time in 33 years (Est. $900,000 – $1,200,000);
- 1931 Mercedes-Benz 370 S Mannheim Sport Cabriolet, chassis U84901, complete with original body, engine, and chassis, it has been regularly shown for 50 years (Est. $650,000 – $800,000).
- 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer by Brewster, chassis S398KP, offered publicly for the first time in over 35 years (Est. $750,000 – $850,000); and
Another notable offering is the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, chassis 198.042.7500569, that was originally owned by Hollywood actress Natalie Wood. Estimated to sell for $1,400,000 to $1,750,000, the 300 SL is one of 25 examples fitted by the factory with Rudge wheels. Fully restored in 2000, this 300 SL took home Best in Class honors at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours.
The ‘winningest’ Shelby ever, a 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 R, is also on offer at the 2014 RM Auctions Amelia Island auction. One of only 33 ‘R-Code’ production competition cars, chassis SFM-5R538 was quite successful on the track. Already a 1965 season SCCA champion when acquired by current owner Charlie Kemp in 1966, he ran it in 54 events, finishing first in 34. Kemp took 17 straight checkered flags in 1968 alone and clocked 184 mph at Daytona that year. It was still competitive through 1970 and was still logging First Places until Kemp retired it in favor of Can-Am racing the following year. According to Kemp it still retains most of its original body panels (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000).
Other sports and racing cars on offer include:
- 1928 Bugatti Type 37A Grand Prix, chassis 37343, a ‘largely original’ example ready for vintage rallying and racing (Est. $900,000 – $1,300,000);
- 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra, chassis CSX 2421, hidden away for 36 years and finished in its original colors (Est. $900,000 – $1,200,000);
- 1986 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole, One of just 13 carbureted examples imported to the United States in 1986, recently fully restored (Est. $325,000 – $375,000);
- 1966 Lola T70 Mk II Can-Am Spyder, last factory-built Mk II Lola Spyder built; formerly owned by John Mecom, full ownership history since new (Est. $295,000 – $395,000);
- 1986 Porsche 959 “Vorserie”, chassis WPOZZZ93ZFS010063, one of only 21 pre-production examples and the factory demonstrator until 1989 (Est. $575,000 – $725,000);
- 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, chassis 15569, original, matching numbers example kept by the original owner for 30 years, multiple Platinum Award winner (Est. $575,000 – $725,000); and
- 1939 Aston Martin 15/98 Short Chassis Open Sports, chassis G9/871/SO, one of only 50 built in this style, it is an international Concours participant and award winner (Est. $300,000 – $400,000).
In 2013, RM Auctions offered 88 automobiles for sale, with 81 finding a new owner, reflecting a 92% sales rate. Total sales volume was $26,854,600, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $331,538. Top sale went to a 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Coupe for $4,510,000, followed by the 1933 Stutz DV32 Convertible Victoria that brought $1,512,500 and the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB that made $1,375,000. (See 2013 RM Auctions Amelia Island Report).
The official auction of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, RM’s Amelia Island event returns to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, Florida on Saturday, March 8th, 2014. A preview will be held from 10am to 6pm on March 7th, followed by the auction on March 8th from 11am. Admission to the preview is open to the general public. Admission to the auction is limited to registered bidders. Bidder registration is $200 US and includes an official catalogue and admission for two to the auction.
For more information, contact RM Auctions at +1 519 352 4575 or visit www.rmauctions.com.
[Source: RM Auctions]
