RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, continued its run of fantastic 2013 results, on March 9, with a highly successful Amelia Island, Florida, sale where records tumbled and more than $26.8 million was grossed with over 92 percent of all lots sold.
Celebrating its 15th year in 2013, RM’s sale saw an incredible roster of more than 85 blue-chip automobiles presented before a truly international audience of bidders. The sale’s “star car,” the beautiful 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Walker-LaGrande Convertible Coupe, one of only three produced and the only supercharged example, attracted immense interest, eventually selling for $4,510,000, firmly establishing itself as the top seller of the day and this year’s Amelia Island weekend.
The second highest performer was a 1933 Stutz DV32 Convertible Victoria, the recipient of a spectacular, class-winning restoration, which attracted spirited bidding in the room and on the phones, eventually selling for $1,512,500. The final sales price represented double the car’s pre-sale estimate and a new marque record for a Stutz sold at auction.
Results from RM’s Amelia Island sale also highlight the sustained strong performance of Ferraris in the market, with V12-powered, front-engined cars of the 1960s continuing to be in huge demand. The matching numbers 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis 07751, having been in single ownership for 37 years, was the third highest selling lot of the auction, realizing a strong $1,375,000. Further reinforcing the demand for the finest examples from Italy’s most iconic sports car maker was the 1952 Ferrari 225 Sport Berlinetta “Tuboscocca,” chassis 0168ED, a terrific example of one of Ferrari’s early racecars and one of only six made in period. The recipient of a fresh mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment and boasting a well-documented history, it found a new home for $1,237,500.
Wrapping up the list of cars achieving million-dollar-plus results at the March 9 sale was the imposing and very rare 1911 Lozier Model 51 Seven-Passenger Touring. One of the mightiest Brass Era touring cars, the Lozier attracted enormous interest, eventually selling for a remarkable $1,100,000 to become another lot to sell for more than twice its pre-sale estimate.
