RM Sotheby’s Tops $42M in Amelia Island Auction

by Cyndi Paceley This 1981 MARCH 811 FORMULA 1 found a new owner for $335,000. Nathan Deremer ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’sAmelia Island, FL — RM Sotheby’s achieved a more than 95% sell-through rate and total sales of over $42.174 million at its May 22 Amelia Island sale.
Ryan Merrill ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’sThe star of the sale was the 1929 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ Torpedo Convertible Coupe by Murphy. The beautifully restored example is one of two examples built with polished and brushed bare aluminum coachwork and the sole intact survivor. With a well-known history from new, the Duesenberg’s meticulous restoration earned it a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance award win and a Amelia Island Concours Best in Class award. Smashing its pre-sale high estimate of $4 million, the car ultimately hammered sold for $5.725 million.
©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’sIn keeping with its strong market segment, five of the top 10 sellers were Ferraris. Topping that list was the 1995 Ferrari F50, a desirable U.S.-spec car and the 48th of 349 examples produced, and one of 55 supplied to the U.S. market. Built to celebrate Ferrari’s 50th anniversary and the company’s only convertible, manual-transmission supercar, this example achieved a final price of $3,772,500.

Rounding off the top three was the 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, one of 330 examples produced between 1966 and 1968. Maintained and enjoyed by the same owner since 1973, this example benefited from a full restoration by a leading specialist and sold for $2.810 million to match its pre-sale high estimate.

Also noteworthy was the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider that retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine and gearbox. With fewer than 13,500 miles from new, the Ferrari Classiche Certified example sold for $2,452,500.