Gooding & Company, Amelia, February 29-March 1, 2024

I’ve known David Gooding since he and Miles Morris were the public face of Christie’s collector car auctions, through the inception of RM Auctions and into the present day when Gooding & Company became the embodiment of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. I cataloged David’s sale of the “Mormon Meteor” and the Peter Williamson Bugattis, both unique privileges.

Gooding & Company styles itself as “Quality is our style” and David and his specialists have worked hard to maintain that orientation. A Gooding auction is always an experience of wonderful cars.

But never, perhaps, more than at Amelia this year when they offered a 1903 Merecedes-Simplex that had been in its original Harmsworth family ownership since new: one hundred twenty-one years.

I’ve quibbled about an overload of Porsches at Gooding sales. It is perhaps commercial reality, but lines of Porsche 994s and 996s of various subtle variations are not exciting. There were stimulating Porsches like the GS/GT Carrera and RSK but also numb Porsches like the 2019 GT2 Clubsport.

Gooding Amelia’s Porsche ennui was ameliorated by twenty cars from the Peter Mullin Collection, hinting at the excitement that is building for Gooding’s sale at the Mullin Museum at the end of April. It will be an event. I’ll be there, and you should be, too.

The Mullin Museum is a magic forest. It’ll go away after the auction and it should be experienced by anyone who loves beautiful cars before it passes.

Gooding’s Amelia auction topped the Amelia auctions chart even if it was less than last year.

Here are the numbers:

Year	Cars Sold/ Offered	Sale %	Sold < Low Est	Sold > High Est	Average Sale	Median Sale	Total $
2024	107/126	84.9%	67.9%	12.3%	$624,132	$190,400 [30.4%]	$67,103,150
2023	147/154	95.5%	62.6%	10.2%	$495,455	$140,000 [28.3%]	$72,831,828
2022	91/99	91.9%	37.4%	26.4%	$731,148	$246,400 [33.7%]	$66,534,480

On -site observations and photos are by Andrew Newton and Greg Ingold. Descriptions are sorted by lot number.

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Lot #6 1996 BMW M3 Evolution Coupe; S/N WBSBG91050EW37145; Techno Violet Purple/Black cloth with M-Cross fabric inserts; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000. – 3,201/321hp, 6-speed, sunroof. – Showing 68,000 km. Recent major service by BMW Group Classic in Munich, including restoration of the VANOS (variable valve timing) system. Euro model recently imported to the US. Very good paint overall with a few minor stone chips to the nose. The engine and underbody are clean and present well, and the interior shows only minor usage. A well-kept M3 that has seen little use. – European market E36 M3s were much spicier than the US-spec cars, with this Evolution model making 321hp against the American car’s 240. Those specs, the rarity of the model in this country, and the awesome colors pushed this car into six figure territory, which is over twice what we normally see E36 M3s in this condition sell for.

Lot #8 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio Drophead Coupe, Body by Gangloff; S/N 57606; Engine # 499; Deep Blue, White/Deep Blue leather; Light Brown top; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $425,000 plus commission of 11.18%; Final Price $472,500. – RHD. 3,257/160hp supercharged, 4-speed, painted wire wheels, Avon tires, cloth boot cover, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger dash clock. – Delivered new to Belgium. Chassis plates switched with another Bugatti (57699) in period and currently powered by the engine that matches that chassis number and claims 57699’s identity. Restored in the 1960s by Gus Reuter for Alden Sherman. First time offered for public sale. Several large paint cracks and the white panels are all mismatched shades. Tired chrome. Dirty boot cover, old wheels. Worn, mildly cracked leather. Cracked shift knob. A well-worn older restoration but it is presentable and seems to be a solid car underneath. – The condition may be inherently sound but the cosmetics are woefully old and neglected. This is a Type 57 that has many clearly apparent needs throughout, a barely usable barn find out of long term ownership where it has languished without much attention. It has abundant potential but reaching that potential will be part of a long term and expensive process that is only barely reflected in this transaction result.

Lot #9 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Hatchback; S/N VF3741R76E5100189; Metallic Grey/Grey leather, cloth; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $245,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $274,400. – 1,775/197hp, 5-speed, cassette stereo, power windows. – Very good repaint showing minimal deterioration, the underbody shows very little aging. The original interior exhibits little use, but small things like the steering wheel and seat bolsters show usage. A reasonably well-maintained 205 Turbo 16. – While not as celebrated as the Audis and Lancias, Peugeot’s Group B rally car was technically the most successful of the era. All Group B era machinery has garnered appreciation in recent years, though. For example, this car sold at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction in 2016 for $198,000 and at RM Amelia in 2018 for $156,800 before being repainted. The seller has been amply rewarded for the repaint.

Lot #19 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E AMG Sedan; S/N WDBEA36E9PB914462; Black Pearl Metallic/Black leather; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $72,800. – 4,983cc/315hp, automatic, sunroof, – Full service records including $19,000 worth of work at Canepa Design. Showing 35,351 miles. Very good original paint. The engine compartment and underbody are in like new condition and the interior is excellent, showing minimal wear although a Saleroom Notice notes corrosion in the radiator core support. An extraordinary example showing little use at all. – This Porsche-built sleeper sedan is in ideal condition for someone who wants to drive and enjoy it. Its condition is nearly perfect and its servicing up to date, and its mileage is low enough to be reassuring but not too low. It brought a deservedly high price for the model. Bonhams sold a high-mile and aged example earlier in the week for about half as much money, but this car is about twice as nice and it was sold at Auctions America Ft. Lauderdale in 2017 for $49,500 before all the recent (and expensive) service. However, today $72,800 buys an impressive performance sedan right off the showroom floor, with a warranty.

Lot #30 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0434MD; Engine # 0434MD; Red/Brown; Estimate $4,000,000 – $5,000,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,995,000 plus commission of 10.13%; Final Price $4,399,500. – RHD. 1,985/170hp four, dual Weber 45 DCOE carburetors, 4-speed, painted Borrani wire wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, tonneau cover, woodrim steering wheel, full-width Plexiglas windscreen, Veglia gauges, documented by Massini, build sheet copies, articles and correspondence. – One of 14 Pinin Farina-bodied cars. Raced in period at Spa and Zandvoort. Restored for Ed Niles in 1965, displayed at Pebble Beach in 1978. Later owners included Erich Traber, Peter Sachs, Bill Jacobs and David Sydorick. Represented as the original chassis, coachwork, engine (internal no. 17MD) and transaxle. Carburetors and shocks are updated. Tidy underneath but has some dirt in the wheel spokes. Good paint. A few very shallow dents in the body ahead of the windshield. Lightly aged interior. In current condition it’s ideal for racing, and it has already been accepted to 1000 Miglia events in 2024 and 2025. Any 1950s racing Ferrari is a significant, special car, and even the four-cylinder models have long since been recognized for their important place in the company’s history. – RM Sotheby’s sold a pile of twisted metal that used to be a 500 Mondial for $1.875M at Monterey last year. Once its long restoration is finished, it will look something like this car, which is already running and ready to race which was sold by Gooding at Scottsdale in 2018 for $4,455,000, just $55,500 more than this result.

Lot #36 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 15277; Engine # B1724; Verde Bahram/Beige leather, Black bars; Black top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,300,000 plus commission of 10.15%; Final Price $3,635,000. – 4,390/352hp, 5-speed, Marelli ignition modules, Borrani wheels, Veglia air conditioning, power windows, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, books, tools and Marcel Massini report. – One of 121 factory-built Daytona Spiders, reportedly one of five in green and perhaps unique in this subtle shade. Bought new by Buck Fulp, Jr. Repainted black at some point, but returned to its original shade more recently and is otherwise original, with 7,827 miles showing that may very well be actual. The paint presents well overall with only a small bit of paint spidering on the passenger’s side hood vent. The bumpers have some scratches to the finish and the rear reflectors and taillights have finish wear and pitting to the bezels. The engine compartment is aged and dirty. The air conditioning belt is disconnected suggesting the AC doesn’t function. The interior exhibits some wear to the seats, but overall interior wear is not excessive. A decent looking Daytona Spyder that shows its age. – While far from a perfect car, this Daytona Spider brought very strong money thanks in part to its rare color and its commendable preservation. Daytona Spiders also just seem to be in high demand, because Broad Arrow sold a blue car in similarly decent but imperfect condition for the similar final price of $3,305,000. For the rare color and provenance this is a well-owned Daytona Spider that brought a healthy price that isn’t undeserved.

Lot #40 2014 McLaren P1 Coupe; S/N SBM12ABA6EW000090; Orange, Black/Black; Estimate $1,800,000 – $2,200,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,500,000. – 3,799/903hp, books and accessories, black wheels, orange calipers. – Number 90 of 375 built. 3,000 miles and recently serviced. Area under the hood signed by designer Frank Stephenson. – This P1 was sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2016 when it was at the height of its appeal, a 903hp hybrid technical masterpiece. Its stature has diminished as other hybrids have matched or exceeded its specs and it might not be presumptuous to say that its appeal has been surpassed. RM offered a P1 in Coral Gables this weekend and it was bid to only [sic] $1.6 million despite having only 19 miles from new. The seller did not read the tea leaves. While the P1 is no longer the latest and greatest in performance and technology, it is still a marvelous technical achievement, just not seen as marvelous as it was when it was new.

Lot #45 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Coupe; S/N WP0AC29977S793160; Black, Orange accent/Black; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $325,000 plus commission of 11.54%; Final Price $362,500. – 3,600/415hp, 6-speed, Sport Chrono package, Bi-xenon headlights, carbon ceramic brakes, orange alloy wheels, red calipers, includes original window sticker and books. – Represented with 2,350 miles. The original paint has a few minor chips on the front bumper, however the rest of the paint presents very well. The underbody and mechanicals are in very good condition and the interior presents very well. A nearly like new car, reportedly one of 230 imported to the US market in 2007, the first year for the 997.1 GT3 RS. – Still an impressive track day car even 17 years later, 997 GT3 RSs held their value well as 911 traditionally have, but it did depreciate slightly until the pandemic years, then values shot up along with everything else with a Porsche badge and track focus. This strong price suggests they’re not going back down any time soon.

Lot #46 1976 Lamborghini Espada 400 GT SIII Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 9452; Metallic Silver/Tan leather; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $84,000. – 3,929/350hp, 5-speed, power steering, Campagnolo wheels, Vredestein tires, power windows, air conditioning, Blaupunkt cassette, jack and tools. – Older chrome. Decent paint with some scratches on the front, imperfect masking around the side trim pieces, and a large chip out of the right A-pillar. Clean wheels and tires. Tidy underbody. Heavily worn driver’s seat and some age to the switchgear. Little history represented, but appears to be a solid driver. – The condition of this Espada is uninspiring but it’s a better car than this price suggests and could have hit closer to $100K without being particularly expensive. It used to be even cheaper, though. Back at RM’s auction at Boca Raton in 2006, it sold for $22,000 with just 36,044 miles, only 2,244 miles in eight years.

Lot #48 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300TE 3.4 AMG Station Wagon; S/N WDB1240911F170209; Blue-Black Metallic/Black; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $67,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $75,040. – 3,314/276hp six, automatic, AMG Monoblock wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, sunroof, roof rack, fire bottle, Becker Mexico radio, books, first aid kit, jack. – Showing 170,979 km (106,241 miles). Imported last year. Small crack in the front bumper. A few minor paint chips. Very clean interior other than some cracks in the console trim. Not as extreme as some of the pre-merger AMG wagons out there, but still a badass sleeper wagon. – Enthusiasm for pre-merger AMGs has been on the upswing and anything from the era with those three magic letters is expensive these days. But in this case, fewer cylinders mean a much more attainable entry, as many of the 8-cylinder cars stretch well into six figures. This one sold on Bring a Trailer late last year for $65,230, which isn’t really enough to call it a successful flip given the fees and transport costs involved. Down at Coral Gables this weekend RM sold an ’88 AMG 300TE 6.0 dubbed “The Mallet” for $467,000, a prime example of what outrageous pre-merger AMG wagons can bring.

Lot #49 1976 GAZ-24 Volga 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 0365550; Engine # 0578941; Light Gray/Red vinyl, cloth; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $25,760. – 2,445/95hp four, 4-speed manual, wheel covers, radio, tool kit, owner’s manual. – Fully restored, very good paint, brightwork and panel alignment, the underbody is aged and greasy, the interior has been redone, however some parts appear original. An interesting Soviet automobile that looks good from a distance but needs a few items addressed. – Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ) built this car, officially known as the GAZ-24 Volga. It sold from 1970-85 as Russia’s premiere luxury sedan. It has some clear American inspiration in its lines, part Ford and part Plymouth depending on what part of the car you look at. Neither fast nor advanced, it was nevertheless something of a status symbol in Russia, partly by virtue of its size, and partly because when it was introduced, you had to have a special-use permit to own one. Is it collectible? Depends on whom you ask, and maybe you have to be a bit eccentric to want it, but this one probably couldn’t have hoped for money money than it brought here at Amelia. A fascinating reference I recently discovered is “Cars for Comrades” by Lewis S. Siegelbaum. On Amazon it’s $23.30 in paperback but only $9.99 online for a Kindle reader and is a revealing, well-written and thoughtful research project on an overlooked subject. I never knew that the Reuther brothers brought U.S. auto manufacturing experience to the Soviet Union before Walter Reuther became head of the UAW in the U.S. It’s no wonder this thing looks like a Ford/Plymouth.

Lot # 114 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 R&P Roadster; S/N CSX2289; Bright Blue/Red leather; Black top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,050,000. – 289/271hp, 4-speed, painted wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, woodrim steering wheel, original radio, Stewart Warner gauges, wind wings. – Matching numbers. Factory demonstrator through 1964. Shown at Pebble Beach in the preservation class. Recent mechanical attention. Dull but original paint with some forgivable blemishes. The wheels look refinished but have a few dings in them. Unrestored but maintained and cleaned up underneath. Cracking original leather and some scuffs on the dash. A proven preservation Cobra. – The reported high bid reflects a premium for preservation, but not a lot and not enough to make up for current collectors’ passion for unrestored cars, particularly cars like this Cobra. It sold at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction in 2011 for $610,550 with 47,233 miles and has added another 5,527 miles in the intervening thirteen years, a testament to its quality and condition. The consignor is entirely reasonable in thinking it is worth more than the reported high bid it brought here. Ratty-looking, but that disguises the inherent quality and preservation underneath.

Lot # 118 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 08272; Engine # 135CS0000012021; Red/Tan, Black leather; Estimate $650,000 – $800,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $830,000 plus commission of 10.60%; Final Price $918,000. – 2,419/195hp, 5-speed, chairs (Daytona-style seats) but no fender flares, air conditioning, power windows, Becker Europa II radio, Ferrari Classiche certified, includes purchase documents, books, tools and jack. – Unrestored and showing 3,162 miles that are represented as actual. The paint is noticeably cracked throughout, however most notable on the trunk lid, buttresses and along the nose. The bumpers have significant pitting, but it is much better in the back. The engine compartment is gracefully aged with a light layer of grease and grime. Underneath is clean, showing little patina and no unusual leaks. The interior shows some use with creasing and soiling to the seats, but the controls exhibit minimal wear. A preserved example showing most damage from sitting rather than use. – An amazing undisturbed survivor that has had only mechanical attention since being exhumed after three decades of static storage. With 3,162 miles it is unlikely to see much road use other than from within the confines of an enclosed trailer and will be cherished as a pristine example of how Dinos were built and assembled, a guidebook for Dino restorations. Its price defies rationality, yet makes perfect sense due to its condition and originality. Among Dino transactions it is an outlier, but deserves to be because it is a Dino outlier itself.

Lot # 121 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 09689; Engine # 09698; Red/Black; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,650,000 plus commission of 10.19%; Final Price $2,920,000. – 3,286/320hp, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, Moto-Lita leather-wrapped steering wheel, bumperette-mounted fog lights. – Originally finished in Blu Chiaro and bought new by racing driver Jo Siffert. Represented as the original engine. With one owner for the last 50 years and in barn find condition, although there’s not a layer of dust on top. It’s still aged, with pitted chrome, cracked paint, filthy wheels and tires, and lots of dirt and oxidation underneath. Small dent in the hood. The leather looks good but the carpets are soiled. A barn-find GTB with a famous original owner, and therefore a rare, exciting opportunity for the right buyer. – This kind of money could have bought a freshly restored 275 GTB/4 instead, but this result still makes sense. First, there aren’t many 1960s Ferraris in this kind of freshly discovered condition, and that’s enticing to certain buyers. Second, its first owner won F1 Grands Prix, Daytona, Sebring, and the Targa Florio, and he bought the car right in the middle of his successful career. It’s already an expensive car, but it’s now up to the new owner whether to keep it as is, restore it, or somehow try to preserve it while bringing out the original Blu Chiaro paint.

Lot # 126 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ-1 Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N AR1012600153; Engine # AR0053004484; Red/Black; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $375,000 plus commission of 11.33%; Final Price $417,500. – 1,290/100hp, dual 40DCOE Webers, 5-speed, hub caps, Michelin XAS tires, dual mirrors, Veglia gauges. – Sold new in Italy, originally finished in blue. Brief hill climb history in the 1960s. Replacement engine. Older paint with some loose masking around the windows and some uneven finish on the nose. Scratches on the window frames. Cracks in the badges on the hub caps. Two large cracks in the left quarter window. Clean and older restored underneath. Light pitting on the mirrors. Good, lightly worn interior. A driver quality SZ-1 that looks great from a short distance but has plenty of small issues up close. – Replacement engine and (probably) a 5-speed it didn’t have when it left Milano? That’s a superior driving car, but not preserved. This result recognizes the superior driving and performance and overlooks the deviation from originality, which is okay as long as the new owner realizes it.

Lot # 128 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60hp Roi des Belges, Body by Rothschild et Fils; S/N Engine No. 2924; Engine # 2924; Green/Dark Green leather; Estimate $10,000,000 -; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,000,000 plus commission of 10.05%; Final Price $12,105,000. – RHD. 9,236/60hp F-head four, 4-speed, dual chain drive, wood artillery wheels, water-cooled rear drum brakes, dual right-side spares, Klaxon horn, Dunhill acetylene headlights. – A Brass era masterpiece. Very early car to wear the Mercedes name. Ordered new by British publishing magnate Alfred C.W. Harmsworth, set fastest times at 1903 Nice Speed Week and Castlewan Hill Climb with a single seat raceabout body, then fitted with the current coachwork. Cosmetically restored and run in the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run in the 1950s. Went into the Museum in Beaulieu in the 1960s and stayed there for 60 years while remaining the Harmsworth family’s ownership continuously from first customer delivery. Paint coming off the chassis and suspension. Cracked leather. Flat paint. Dull finishes everywhere. But arguably better for it. London to Brighton eligible. Impressive in its preservation and historical significance. If you asked the average person what the most expensive car here is, few would pick this bedraggled 60-horsepower car from 121 years ago. But it is the most expensive. By a long shot. – It is almost demeaning to say this 1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60hp is “LBVCR eligible”. It is LBVCR dominant, a car that will start at the back of the field, blow by everything and be waiting at the finish in Brighton to welcome the others which aspire to its elegance, technical sophistication and performance. It also would be a shame to restore it. Just put some seat covers over the old, torn leather and spend hours on making it perform like it did in 1903. The catalog noted that Jim Clark and Bill Boddy drove it on the LBVCR in the Fifties, a privilege that anyone who has a feeling for the history of the automobile would be privileged to experience. Just turning a bolt or nut on this Mercedes-Simplex is a privilege. It stands proudly as what it is and, really, no amount of money is enough for it.

Lot # 130 1989 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSA17S000080096; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Unrestored original 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $312,500 plus commission of 11.60%; Final Price $348,750. – 4,943/390hp, 5-speed, Michelin tires, power windows, air conditioning. – Just 211 km (131 miles) and represented with recent belt service new tires, and rebuilds of the fuel and brake systems. It does look showroom fresh, and the recent service is reassuring since this car has spent almost all of its existence sitting still. Buyer is paying for the odometer reading here. – This car popped up on Bring a Trailer one years ago, and was bid to $294,000 but didn’t sell. That seemed like all the money in the world for a no-mile Testarossa, but the Amelia bidders were even kinder to it and the seller wisely let it go. At this price and despite the recent servicing, the new owner will likely feel guilty with every tick of the odometer and never drive it farther than cars and coffee a couple times a year.

Lot # 132 1961 Porsche RS 61 Spyder, Body by Wendler; S/N 718076; Engine # 90403; Silver/Dark Red; Estimate $4,000,000 – $5,000,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,100,000 plus commission of 10.16%; Final Price $3,415,000. – 1,678/175hp 4-cam four, dual Weber 46 IDA3 carburetors, 5-speed, annular disc brakes, Dunlop Racing tires. – European hill climb and South African race history in period driven by Hermann Muller in Europe and Dr. Dawie S. Gous in South Africa. Restored in the 1980s or 1990s and has been regularly historic raced and maintained. Replacement Typ 547/3 4-cam engine. Beautiful paint. Scratches on the filler cap and exhaust tip. Several blemishes in the wheels. Significant wear on the driver’s seat but mostly good interior. A mostly gorgeous early racing Porsche eligible for all sorts of events. – Annual disc brakes were an innovative idea from Porsche in the early 60’s utilizing expanding pads between a pair of discs pressured, but not “gripped” like conventional calipers, from the inside. Lighter than conventional disc brakes but typically Porsche-complicated in search of tiny advantages in unsprung weight, they quickly yielded to less complicated and lower cost conventional disc brakes. The Revs Institute has good photos at https://www.facebook.com/RevsInstitute/posts/the-unique-annular-disc-brakes-on-the-1961-porsche-rs-61l-porsche-designed-an-al/2743262779265378/. Any Hermann Muller Porsche Spyder is desirable and the good racing history amplifies it. This is a moderate price for an immediately usable competition Porsche that looks the part and goes just as well.

Lot # 134 1957 Porsche 356A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 83319; White/Black; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,000,000. – 1,498/110hp, 4-speed, steel wheels, gold brightwork, includes Kardex, books and tools. – Represented as one of 151 Carrera Speedsters, and fewer than 90 in GT specification. Older restored in the early 2010s but more recent cosmetic restoration. Correct type but unnumbered replacement engine. Excellent paint and panel gaps. The engine compartment is immaculate and the interior shows only the slightest of wear. Spectacularly restored and sparingly used. – Even taking the replacement engine into account this is a pessimistic offer for a great Porsche that needs absolutely nothing having been restored by Porsche experts with years of experience. The low estimate would not have been expensive.

Lot # 139 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe; S/N 1980405500666; Engine # 1989805500715; White/Red leather; Estimate $1,600,000 – $1,800,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,600,000 plus commission of 10.31%; Final Price $1,765,000. – 2,996/240hp, 4-speed, Michelin tires, Talbot Berlin mirror, Nardi-style woodrim steering wheel, TAG Heuer stopwatch, Karl Baisch luggage, tools, books, extra wheels, original steering wheel. – Two California owners until last year with California black plates DHW 486. Good older paint with very minor chips throughout, particularly around the doors. Good chrome. Good, lightly worn interior. Would make a great vintage rally and tour car. – This is a seriously wonderful, lovingly maintained and reasonably driven Gullwing that needs nothing and should never need restoration after years of preservation by two dedicated California owners. It brought a healthy price for an aged Gullwing, but one that is more than fully supported by its preservation and benign history.

Lot # 142 1930 G.A.R. Type B5 Roadster; S/N 795; Red/Tan; Estimate $75,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $87,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $98,000. – 1,375cc SOHC straight-eight with twin Solex carbs, Cotal pre-selector 4-speed gearbox, red wire wheels, Dunlop tires, rear-mounted spare. – From the Mullin collection. Believed to be one of three in existence. Restored and shown at Pebble Beach in 2013. A few blemishes in the flat, almost matte finish paint. Tidy but older underneath. Lightly worn seat. The gauges are clear, but the bezels show some age. A rare, obscure French car but an interesting one, especially with that impressive, tiny overhead cam straight-eight. – “G.A.R”? Reading that I think “Grand Army of the Republic”, an organization of Union veterans of the U.S. Civil War. Not so in this case, but it is still obscure. Peter Mullin loved French cars. He appreciated their advanced design and most of all their sleek shape. The possibilities of overhead cam straight eights were not lost on French voiturette builders after the success of the Peugeot “Charlatans” and this G.A.R. embodies those advances. It is far more car than the pre-sale estimate gave it credit for and puts the new owner in an enviable position of building a history for G.A.R. and the B5 specifically while starting as a moderate price.

Lot # 147 1948 Delahaye 135MS Cabriolet, Body by Chapron; S/N 800727; Engine # 800727; Blue, Silver/Blue and Gray leather; Gray cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $350,000 plus commission of 11.43%; Final Price $390,000. – RHD. 3,557/130hp, 4-speed, painted wire wheels, dash clock. – From the Mullin collection. Largely unrestored. Faded paint and chrome. Not all of the body trim fits flush and paint is coming up around the pieces on the doors. Worn, lightly cracking leather. An impressive car with visible age. – Sold at B-J Coys Monaco in 2000 for $121,013 (868,836 FFR at the time) and to all intents and purposes in the same condition today, a rare “Vedette” variant, one of four built and the sole unrestored example. This Chapron-bodied Delahaye has potential to be a Pebble Beach award winner and Peter Mullin put it away. Today that potential exists for another visionary collector, a vision that was reflected in the price it brought here. It’s all there and needs only (expensive) realization. We’ll see it soon, bright and shiny at a concours.

Lot # 148 1935 Avions Voisin C28 Clairiere Berline Sedan; S/N 28917; Engine # 53010; Black/Blue cloth; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $224,000. – RHD. 3,315/110hp six, Cotal 4-speed electromagnetic gearbox, Dunlop tires, Jaeger dash clock, centerlock wheels, wheel discs. – From the Mullin collection. Some discrepancies in the car’s early history including a confused chassis number. Presentable but old paint and brightwork. Several scratches in the windshield. A little dirty underneath. Good interior other than some age to a few gauges and switches. Missing a water pump and some brake parts, so it is not drivable currently. – There are many open items in this Voisin’s heritage but none of them take away at all from its creative design and innovative concept. Putting historical issues aside this is still a dramatic Voisin that deserves every dollar (and even a few more) of the price it brought here. It will rumble down the freeway (after extensive service having sat for years) at speeds that will startle drivers of Acuras and Cadillacs, an image from a visionary of the early 20th century.

Lot # 150 1963 Citroen DS19 Le Dandy Coupe, Body by Chapron; S/N 4266904; Blue/Gray leather; Estimate $150,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $212,800. – 1,911/74hp, column shift 4-speed, Michelin X tires, pushbutton radio. – From the Mullin collection. One of 50 built. Sold new to an air transport company in Paris, two later owners. Tired paint and brightwork. Long crack on the top right of the windshield. Good, lightly worn interior. A few body trim pieces are loose. Tidy but older underneath. One of four Chapron-bodied DSs from this collection. Neither the prettiest, cleanest or rarest of the four, but for some reason has the highest estimate. – It is possible that only a Frenchman or Peter Mullin could love this Le Dandy with its roof perched upon the long elliptical DS19 body. It is nothing if not bizarre, but on the streets of Paris or Beverly Hills it will make a statement. The price it brought is noteworthy but not out of line with late model supercars that sell for multiples of this for someone who wants to make a statement. Peter Mullin had “taste” and Le Dandy may not exemplify it but it exhibits it.

Lot # 158 1931 Bugatti Type 49 Berline 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 49377; Engine # 305; Blue, Black/Tan leather; Estimate $150,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $350,000 plus commission of 11.43%; Final Price $390,000. – RHD. 3,257/85hp, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Blockley tires, dual sidemount spares, rear seat tables, Jaeger gauges, wood dash, woodrim steering wheel, luggage trunk. – From the Mullin collection. Delivered new in France. Unknown history until the 1960s. Engine replacement from 49439. First restored in 1981 and further work done in 2005. Repainted in 2012 when it went to Mullin Collection. Good older paint and vinyl-covered roof, but there are some blemishes around the horseshoe grille and the headlight bezels are faded. Clean wheels and tires. A few imperfections in the wood running boards. Beautiful interior. A handsome, lightly aged four-door Bugatti. – Elegant and unusual, the idea of a luxurious, large 4-door Bugatti sedan is a stretch from the 2- and 4-seat sporting cars that come to mind when the word Bugatti is mentioned. That makes this Berline all the more important in Bugatti history although it hardly explains why it amazed the Mullin and Gooding staff by blowing through its pre-sale estimate. This is Type 49 Drophead Coupe money.

Lot # 160 1965 Citroen DS19 Majesty 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Chapron; S/N 4426002; Metallic Gray/Tan leather; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $207,200. – 1,911/74hp, column shift 4-speed, wheel covers, Becker Mexico radio, power division window, rear-hinged rear doors, fog lights, Jaeger dash clocks front and rear, twin rear ashtrays, heated mirrors, Connolly leather. – From the Mullin collection. One of 27 Majesties built by Chapron. Ordered new by René Gaston-Dreyfus. A few scratches in the front bumper and pitted right headlight bezel. Good paint. Lovely interior showing barely any wear. The best appointed of the four Chapron-bodied DSs here, and in good usable condition. Second in Class at Pebble Beach in 2018. – At the hands of Henri Chapron the Citroen DS could be anything from the Le Dandy coupe and Le Caddy convertible to this luxurious, large Majesty sedan with all manner of special wishes, even rear-hinged back doors. It is a rare work of the coachbuilder’s art in 1965 and has always been treated as the special vehicle that it is. This is a serious price but it acquired a rare, distinctive automobile.

Lot # 161 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412013638; Arabian Grey/Blue leather; Blue top; Estimate $180,000 – $220,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $168,000. – 2,778/170hp, automatic, Becker Europa radio, air conditioning, crank windows, hardtop only, service records, factory manuals, tool kit. – Paint and brightwork both in excellent condition with very few blemishes, though the chrome around the hardtop does show some pitting. Some deterioration of the rubber window seals. Very clean interior. Best Overall European Sports Car at 2019 Philadelphia Concours d’Elegance. Features new shocks, detail work to the paint, concours-ready engine compartment, trunk, and underbody. – Gooding sold this well-restored Pagoda at Pebble Beach in 2022 for $212,800. The market has settled a bit since then, and although this result in Amelia is significantly lower, it isn’t inappropriate to the car’s condition and equipment.

Lot # 162 1986 RUF BTR 3.4 Lightweight Coupe; S/N W09TA0346GPR06028; Red/Black leather; Estimate $325,000 – $425,000; Original, modified for competition or performance 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $360,000 plus commission of 11.39%; Final Price $401,000. – 3,367/374hp, 5-speed, red RUF-branded Speedline wheels, sunroof, side intakes, Recaro seats, Blaupunkt cassette, RUF gauges, boost controller, intercooler. – US delivery car. Showing 22,022 miles. Clean paint, wheels and tires. Odd scratches on the dash top. Clean interior otherwise. Light general age and wear. – A 930 made even more special with the slant nose body and even more special with the RUF upgrades, this car got an appropriate level of love on the block and sold right in the middle of its estimate range.

Lot # 163 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Coupe; S/N ZFFAA54A050142651; Azzuro California/Blu Scuro leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Unrestored original 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $420,000 plus commission of 11.19%; Final Price $467,000. – 5,748/532hp, 6-speed manual, Silver calipers, Pirelli tires, books, tools, car cover. – One of 199 built with a 6-speed manual. Represented with just 6,308 miles. Gorgeous and like new. – With rare colors, low mileage and a 6-speed manual, this car is at the very top of the food chain for Ferrari’s often overlooked 2000s four-seater. At a $467,000 final price, though, nobody overlooked it in Amelia. This is a record price for the model, besting the previous record (set by the same car) of $324,500 at RM’s 2020 Monterey-Shift auction by 44%. In 2012 it sold at RM’s Ft. Lauderdale auction for $100,100. The six-speed has had little exercise since 2020 with only 616 miles added to the odometer since then.

Lot # 165 2012 Lexus LFA Coupe; S/N JTHHX8BHXC1000052; Metallic Silver/Red; Estimate $800,000 – $900,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $620,000. – 4,805/553hp, automatic, red calipers, luggage. – 54th of 500 built. 4,600 miles. Other than a handful of tiny chips on the front and a driver’s seat that looks like it’s seen a few hours of seat time, there’s no real age to speak of. – After a big run-up in 2021-22, Lexus LFAs are softening. The reported high bid here was soft for the condition and miles. Down the road, Broad Arrow’s LFA sold, but its $731K final price was less than expected. Even farther down the road in Miami, neither one of RM Sotheby’s LFAs on offer met reserve. Looks like it’s time for an adjustment on these modern Japanese supercars.

Lot # 167 1974 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe; S/N 2V87X4N162804; Admiralty Blue, Light Blue/Black vinyl with cloth inserts; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $134,400. – 455/290hp Super Duty, 4-speed manual, 8-track player, includes original documentation and period accessories. – The original paint is in good condition overall aside from some filled chips on the nose. The rear wing is slightly misaligned, however that is likely a factory “feature.” Engine compartment is aged and the bolt heads for the front end bracing are oxidized. The underbody shows surface corrosion and is somewhat greasy at the engine crossmember. The interior shows light use. An original example showing some use and plenty of age from sitting. – This car was sold by the original owner for $93,500 at Fall Auburn in 2012 and then brought $173,600 at Broad Arrow Amelia Island last year. That was a staggering price but the level of preservation is something very hard to find on any car, let alone a 1970s Pontiac. For the second time across the block in 12 months, however, its novelty had worn off. The seller was surely hoping for more, but this is still a strong price for it in 2024.

Lot # 169 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ96ZNS470746; Grand Prix White/Wine Red leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $380,000 plus commission of 11.32%; Final Price $423,000. – 3,299/355hp X33 engine, 5-speed, sunroof, power windows, Blaupunkt cassette. – One of 192 cars built with the X33 engine option. Ordered with extra leather interior trim, and color to sample interior. With its original Swiss owner until 2022, regularly maintained, and showing 48,341 km. The paint and exterior trim all looks great, but the windshield has a delaminating spot at one bottom corner. The interior looks great with hardly any wear. Solid condition, and the X33 engine plus special colors should get Porsche people excited. – And it did. Without the X33 upgrades and special colors, this car might have otherwise sold for comfortably under $300K.

Lot # 172 1957 BMW 503 Coupe; S/N 69089; Engine # 30094; Metallic Blue, Dark Blue/Red leather with Cream piping; Estimate $250,000 – $325,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000. – 3,169/140hp V8, column shift 4-speed, hub caps, Pirelli tires, power windows, Becker Mexico stereo. – One of 273 coupes built. Older restoration with service performed late last year. Blemishes in the chrome bumpers and front grilles. Very good paint other than a small scratch on the left front bumper. Clean wheels. Lightly worn driver’s seat and switchgear. A mostly beautiful car in fantastic colors, only let down by minor details. – A rare car, attractively restored, lightly used and powered by BMW’s 3.2 litre V-8 engine, this 503 should have had BMW fanatics climbing over each other to get it. It’s not a 507, but it isn’t seven figures, either. Why it was so thoroughly shunned by the Gooding Amelia bidders is not apparent but the vibe wasn’t right and the consignor wisely took it home.

Lot # 174 1961 Ferrari 250 GTE Coupe 2+2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 2831; Engine # 2831; Marrone/Pelle Beige Franzi leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $260,000. – 2,953/240hp, 4-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, dash clock, grille-mounted Marchal fog lights, rally instruments, louvered C-pillar, SNAP exhaust tips, Heuer timers. Comes with books, original hood, spares, build sheet copy. – Aging paint and chrome. A few blemishes on the wheels. Numerous tiny chips and wiper marks on the windshield. Good interior with negligible wear and age. A usable four-seater 250 in rare colors. – While this would have been a perfectly adequate and reasonable offer for this 250 GTE a few years ago the values have gained rapidly in recent years and this bid is no longer enough even for a tired 250 GTE. Considering the long single family ownership the low estimate would have been a decent value.

Lot # 176 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible; S/N 556243697; Alpine White/Red and White leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200. – 331/270hp, automatic, air conditioning, wheel covers and whitewall tires, parade boot, power windows, WonderBar radio bezel with aftermarket radio, auxiliary gauges added. – Shown at Pebble Beach in 2023. Very good paint overall with a slight crack in the finish behind the driver’s door. The brightwork is very good overall and there is some streaking to the windshield, under the hood shows some light use. It has aftermarket air conditioning, cooling system and Edelbrock carburetors instead of the original Carters. The interior presents well with only minor use evident. Shown at Pebble Beach, so the drivability upgrades, while welcome, are a bit surprising. – Optimistically estimated but realistically valued by the successful bidder and even that amount mostly ignores the upgrades… or treats them as the driving enhancements that they are. This result is fair to both the seller and the buyer.