Mike Hanlon
One of only 20 examples built, the 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion is the street version of the Le Mans-Winning 911 GT1. This highly original example has covered just 7,900 km from new | Sold for $5,665,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Jensen Suta / Gooding & Co)
The collectible automobile auctions marketplace continued to surprise everyone in Amelia Island this week, with the weather playing the final wildcard to prevent any analysis of the results having much meaning. Total sales were US$121.3 million, down from $140 million last year, but that doesn't mean much when the crowds headed for the auctions decided to go elsewhere when they had looked at the weather map.
Hagerty reports that the the average sale price was $332,345, which was down from an average sale price of $420,551 in 2016. It doesn't mean much because of all the disparate factors that influenced the weekend and the sale.
Apart from the weather, this year's sale didn't include a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder. Last year, one such car sold for $17.2 million, which just about covers the entire 2017 auction cluster shortfall compared to 2016. Nor did the 2017 sales have a collection as significant as the Jerry Seinfeld Porsche Collection, which sold for $22.2 million last year.The average sale price was down in 2017 for myriad reasons but mainly because of lack of sales in the $10 million plus premium area, many of the hero cars failing to sell, and cars sold above $2 million being hence notably scarce.
Rather than attempt to unravel the auction, we've pulled together the most notable sales and non-sales, and thrown in a dozen outliers we liked.
No sale | 1957 Jaguar XKSS
One of just 16 built, plus nine "continuation models", the car was expected to sell for between $13,000,000 and $16,000,000, but apparently missed reserve by just $100,000. | Official Auction Page(Credit:Gooding & Co)
No sale | 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta by Touring
The 27th of 32 Ferrari 166 MM examples built and the 23rd of 25 Touring Barchettas, this 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta was owned and raced by future Scuderia Ferrari driver Eugenio Castellotti in period and was expected to fetch between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000, but failed to meet reserve. | Official Auction Page(Credit: Somer Hooker)
No sale | 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Sports "Bobtail"
This Bobtail, is one of the most significant and correct 'works' Bentleys extant, being built for the factory team for the 1928 season. A two-time factory Le Mans entrant, including third place in 1929. | Expected to fetch between $6,500,000 and $7,500,000, it failed to meet reserve.| Official auction Page(Credit: Somer Hooker)
No sale | 2015 Ferrari La Ferrari
This 2015 LaFerrari has less than 130 miles on the odometer, and was ordered with $124,000 of options, including carbon fiber fog lamps, mirrors, dashboard, upper and lower body portions, wheel caps and the rare carbon fiber roof panel. Offered with an estimate of $3,800,000 to $4,500,000, bidding must have gone very close to the reserve price, but didn't reach it. | Official Auction Page(Credit: Gooding & Co)
$2,392,500 | 2015 McLaren P1
Offered for charity, this 2015 McLaren P1 was estimated to sell for between $2,000,000 and $2,300,000 and ultimately fetched $2,392,500 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Gooding & Co)
$2,250,000 | 1949 Aston Martin DB Mk II
Expected to sell for between $1,500,000 and $2,250,000, this car marked the birth of the DB lineage, was raced by Lance Macklin, and became David Brown's personal car. It fetched $1,540,000. Official Auction Page(Credit: Jensen Suta / Gooding & Co)
$2,227,500 | 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Alloy
One of just two examples built with factory competition features, this 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Alloy with coachwork by Pinin Farina, sold for $2,227,500 | Official Auction Page(Credit:Somer Hooker)
$1,750,000 | 1989 Mazda 767B
This 1989 Mazda 767B is just one of three 767B Endurance Racers built, twice entering Le Mans and winning it's class in 1990. A seriously potent performer capable of winning vintage racing, it is elegible for Le Mans Classique. As the official auction page dubs it, "a well-prepared and historic example of Mazda’s Group C masterpiece." The car sold for $1,750,000(Credit:Gooding & Co)
$1,540,000 | 1993 Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau
One of only 67 built of Porsche’s first lightweight turbo production car, this 1993 Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau had traveled less than 2,500 km when it sold for $1,540,000. | Official Auction Page(Credit: Jensen Suta / Gooding & Co)
$1,375,000 | 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
This 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 sold well above the estimate of $900,000 to $1,100,000 to fetch $1,375,000, which is a record at auction for the model. | $1,375,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: RM-Sothebys)
$1,320,000 | 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America by Pinin Farina | sold for $1,320,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Somer Hooker)
$770,000 | 2005 Porsche Carrera GT
2005 Porsche Carrera GT | Sold for $770,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: RM Sothebys)
$467,500 | 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT
This 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT sold for $467,500 against an estimate of $500,000 to $600,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Gooding & Co)
No sale | 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
Expected to potentially sell over the $10 million mark, this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti failed to make reserve | Official auction page(Credit: Somer Hooker)
$7,700,000 | 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet by Vanvooren
This 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet by Vanvooren was the surprise top seller of the auctions, fetching $7.7 million. A highly original, unrestored example of the 42 Type 57S chassis produced, and one of just three extant by Vanvooren. | Official Auction Page(Credit: Darin Schnabel | RM-Sothebys)
$5,665,000 | 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
One of only 20 examples built, the 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion is the street version of the Le Mans-Winning 911 GT1. This highly original example has covered just 7,900 km from new | Sold for $5,665,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Jensen Suta / Gooding & Co)
$2,640,000 | 1995 Ferrari F50
Delivered new to boxer Mike Tyson, this 1995 Ferrari F50 still sold for $2,640,000. | Official Auction Page(Credit: Kevin Uy, RM-Sothebys)
$2,365,000 | 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Coupe Series III by Frua
This 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Coupe Series III by Frua is the only surviving example of two coupes built by Frua on the series III chassis and was displayed at the 1956 Turin Auto Salon. One of 22 Frua-bodied cars overall, and 65 total examples built, it was a class winner at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The car sold for $2,365,000. | Official Auction Page(Credit:Somer Hooker)
$2,145,000 | 1936 Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III "Tipo Bocca"
This 1936 Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III "Tipo Bocca" by Pinin Farina sold for $2,145,000 was Pininfarina’s 1936 Milano Motor Show car and displayed at the inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza, in San Remo in May 1937. | Official Auction Page(Credit: Darin Schnabel, RM Sothebys)
$1,842,500 | 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB
$1,842,500 | 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB | Official Auction Page(Credit: RM-Sothebys)
$1,683,000 | 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe
1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe by Park Ward | Sold for $1,683,000 to set a new record for the model | Official Auction Page(Credit: RM-Sothebys)
$1,485,000 | 1990 Ferrari F40
The 77th of 213 F40s built for the US market, this 1990 Ferrari F40 has travelled just 1,600 miles in 27 years. Estimated to sell between $1,300,000 and $1,600,000, it fetched $1,485,000. | Official Auction Page (Credit: Gooding & Co
$1,358,500 | 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing | Sold for $1,358,500 | Official Auction Page(Credit:Somer Hooker)
$990,000 | 1965 Aston Martin DB5
1965 Aston Martin DB5 | Sold for $990,000 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Somer Hooker)
$517,000 | 1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Coupe
This 1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Coupe is one of just over 100 356 C Series Carrera 2s produced. It sold for $517,000 | Porsche 911 prices have been rising over the last five years and the market for the 356 is now beginning to follow the 911 upwards. This was the highest priced 356 of over 20 which crossed the black in Amelia Island | Official Auction Page(Credit:Gooding & Co)
$335,500 | 1986 Lamborghini Countach 5000S
This Euro-specification 1986 Lamborghini Countach 5000S sold for $335,500 | Official Auction Page(Credit: Bonhams)